WASHINGTON’S 340B HOSPITALS AND CLINIC SYSTEMS ARE FAILING PATIENTS
Washington’s 340B hospitals and clinics are supposed to help people. Instead, they’re exploiting taxpayer funds, failing audits, and enriching executives while hardworking Washingtonians are left in the dark.
Billions In Profits But Charity Care Plummets.
Despite their safety-net status, Washington health systems provide far less charity care than the rest of the nation. Their average charity care rate was just 1.52% of their operating budget.
One Washington children’s hospital had a total revenue $2.3 billion in 2023, but only spent 0.6% of total expense on charity care.
Massive Markups and Aggressive Debt Collection.
Washington hospitals utilize aggressive collection practices for high-cost treatments and services, leaving vulnerable patients in debt and unable to afford care.
One Washington patient was forced into debt after receiving a $5,300 bill for a three-hour visit to the hospital.
After being sued for flouting Washington’s charity care law, a major health system was forced to repay $21 million in improper medical charges and abandon its ruthless pursuit of more than $137 million in patient debt.
At one Washington 340B hospital, total revenue doubled from $2.9 billion to $6.1 billion during the same period that charity care was reduced by half.
Where Is The Money Going?
The president and CEO of one Washington 340B hospital makes over $1.6 million a year in reported income.
According to a 2022 report, fifteen health system executives in Washington make over $1.5 million in annual salary.
CONGRESS, STOP HOSPITALS’ 340B ABUSE AND PROTECT HARDWORKING WASHINGTONIANS