New Jersey hospitals struggled before downturn, report says

Nearly half of the New Jersey's hospitals posted overall losses at the end of 2007, according to new audited financial data released by the New Jersey Hospital Association. The report shows that New Jersey's hospitals were struggling well before the country's recent economic downturn. According to the study, the average total margin plunged to 0.9% last year from 3.1% in 2006. The 2007 figure was the lowest since 2002.