The report by Human Rights Watch questioned nonprofit hospitals' role in the country's healthcare system.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and Catholic Health Association (CHA) released a joint statement firing back at a Human Rights Watch report on nonprofit hospitals' contribution to healthcare's medical debt problem.
The report, titled "In Sheep's Clothing: United States' Poorly Regulated Nonprofit Hospitals Undermine Health Care Access," puts nonprofit hospitals and the community benefits they provide under the microscope.
Human Rights Watch cited Kaiser Family Foundation's survey in 2022 that 41% of Americans had some sort of medical debt, as well as Urban Institute's survey in March that about 73% of adults with past-due debt reported owing at least some of that debt to hospitals.
"The US heavily relies on these privately operated nonprofit hospitals' charity care to increase access to health care for patients who cannot pay for hospital services, such as emergency treatment, diagnostic work, and inpatient surgeries," the report stated. "But given the high prevalence of hospital-related medical debt in the US, this system is clearly not working."
AHA took exception with the report's takedown of nonprofit hospitals as well as its "understanding of the community benefits tax-exempt hospitals provide or the IRS regulations they are subject to."
"America's hospitals and health systems, regardless of size, location, or type, are committed to treating all patients with respect and dignity while providing high quality, accessible care, regardless of ability to pay or health insurance status," AHA president and CEO Rick Pollack and CHA president and CEO Sr. Mary Haddad said in a statement.
"The report released today from Human Rights Watch — based in part on research funded by an organization with a track record for bias — conspicuously focuses on tax-exempt hospitals, largely in the absence of other sectors of health care, such as commercial insurers, drug, or device companies that contribute to hospital expenses as well as consumer debt. It all but ignores that the root cause of medical debt is inadequate commercial health care coverage."
Jay Asser is the contributing editor for strategy at HealthLeaders.