Submitted
Hoosiers for Affordable Healthcare has directed its team of nationally renowned health and economic policy experts to carefully review a report recently published by the Indiana Hospital Association regarding the cost of insurance in Indiana.
Al Hubbard, Hoosiers for Affordable Healthcare Board Chairman, addressed the Indiana Hospital Association’s report with the following statement:
“Over the past several years, two studies by the RAND Corporation, a study by Harvard University, and a study by the Health Care Cost Institute have come to the same conclusion: The prices Hoosiers pay for hospital care are significantly higher than the national average. High prices show up in premiums, deductibles, and copayments, and accounting for all of those factors results in Hoosiers still spending far more on health care than people in most other states.
“We have asked our policy team to thoroughly analyze the recent report released and cited by the Indiana Hospital Association. Our policy team has expressed initial concerns about the methodology, including that the main methodology in the report excluded nearly three-quarters of the private market – those employers who self-insure. We will provide a thorough analysis to assist policy makers as they work to lower the price of hospital care for Hoosiers.
“Hoosier employers and individuals are acutely aware of just how expensive hospital care is in Indiana, and those that have businesses in multiple states are vocal about the fact that they pay more for care in Indiana than in virtually every other state. We have heard time and time again that the cost of hospital care in Indiana is an economic development disadvantage, and that it limits the ability of Hoosier employers to raise wages for their employees and grow their business.
“We are encouraged that IU Health has already committed to lowering their prices to the national average within the next few years. We hope other Indiana hospitals commit to this same important goal to help Indiana businesses’ flourish and to preserve greater net take-home pay for Hoosier families.”
Learn more about Hoosiers for Affordable Healthcare at h4ahc.com.
It seems that here in Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties there is a competition between Deaconess and Ascension St. Vincent to see which one can open the most satellite clinics. And these are large million dollar facilities, often just down the road from each other. Ascension St. Vincent is a “non profit” health care organization that is said to have billions in the bank. So what does “non profit” mean? And Deaconess is constantly adding to their enormous hospital in Newburgh. No wonder hospital charges are high and insurance premiums also.