Uninsured Patients Flood Public Hospitals, Putting Them at Risk, Says Survey

The NAPH survey also found:

• An 18% percent increase of uninsured patients who visited emergency rooms—with 1,200 additional visits per member. The health systems in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Washington DC reported higher than average increases in emergency room visits by uninsured patients.


• A 15% increase of uninsured patients also accessing non-emergency outpatient hospital services, including primary care. Systems in Alabama, California, Washington DC, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and Virginia all reported higher than average increases. The report noted: "These increases in utilization by uninsured patients continue to stretch the health systems' limited resources—more than half of all patients seeking care at these health systems are uninsured or covered by Medicaid."

In its report, NAPH recommended that Congress "enact comprehensive healthcare reform to ensure universal access to care" and provide additional funding to safety net hospitals and states.

NAPH includes more than 140 hospitals within 81 health systems, such as the New York City Health and Hospitals Corp., and the Cook County Bureau of Health Services. NAPH members represent 2% of hospitals nationwide, but provide 21% of all hospital-based uncompensated care.

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