Research on the impact of nonprofit hospital conversions on community benefits

The Foundation's Changes in Health Care Financing and Organization program was designed to support research, demonstration, and evaluation projects examining major changes in health care financing.The purpose of this project is to study the impacts of conversions of nonprofit hospitals to for-profit status in terms of impact on community benefits. They will examine both short-term and long-term impacts using several different measures of community benefit, including uncompensated care, provision of unprofitable services, price discounts, and community representation on governing boards. They will also assess the number of conversions that resulted in either hospital closures or changes in service orientation. The objective of the study is to assess whether, and how, hospital conversions from nonprofit to for-profit status affects the community that these hospitals serve. The researchers will study hospital conversions in three states: California, Florida, and Texas. The will also examine Medicare Cost Reports and American Hospital Association survey data. While the researchers examined hospital conversions to for-profit in California in an earlier study, their earlier study only included two measures of community benefit and did not address long-term impacts.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $72,619.00

Awarded on: 8/12/1997

Time frame: 9/1/1997 - 8/31/1998

Grant Number: 32501