Increase of Hospital Mergers Raises Patient Care Concerns

Many not-for-profit hospitals are seeking to align with for-profit hospital chains in an effort to stay afloat and make facility improvements, but the growth of mergers has stirred a debate over whether health care providers are more concerned with profits or patients. Officials say the uptick in mergers and acquisitions is likely to continue because of provisions in the health reform law intended to extend health coverage to millions of uninsured individuals, which would reduce financial burdens associated with uncompensated and charity care.

• "Mergers of For-Profit and Non-Profit Hospitals Raise Questions" (Gold, Kaiser Health News/USA Today, 7/13).