CA nonprofit hospitals face state hearing on tax-exempt status

A California state auditor's report shows that nonprofit hospitals have significant leeway in determining how much charity care they provide to the neediest patients. A state Senate committee will discuss that issue and others at a hearing Wednesday as part of the debate over whether nonprofit hospitals do enough to justify their tax-exempt status. Critics have said some nonprofit hospitals skimp on charity care while amassing large reserves and paying hefty salaries to executives. Some nonprofit hospitals have also come under scrutiny for aggressive collection practices against the uninsured over unpaid medical bills.