As more Americans gain insurance under the federal health law, hospitals are rethinking their charity programs, with some scaling back help for those who could have signed up for coverage but didn't. The move is prompted by concerns that offering free or discounted care to low-income uninsured patients might dissuade them from getting government-subsidized coverage. If a patient is eligible to purchase subsidized coverage through the law's online marketplaces but doesn't sign up, should hospitals "provide charity care on the same level of generosity as they were previously?" asks Peter Cunningham, a health policy expert at Virginia Commonwealth University.
