Bernie Sanders is taking aim at the billion-dollar nonprofit hospital industry, pushing them to increase the number of charitable care patients they serve. With record high medical costs and insurance premiums, the Vermont senator is introducing legislation that would make it easier for those in need to access affordable medical care.
The legacy of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for those who lack health insurance. Now, Sanders is attempting to close the gap between what people may need and what they can afford by putting pressure on nonprofit hospitals to be more charitable.
Sanders’ bill, the Nonprofit Hospital Access Act, would require nonprofit hospitals to dedicate 8% of annual revenue to providing free care from charity patients. It would also cap executive compensation at 25 times the median employee salary and demand that hospitals set up programs to help uninsured patients navigate complex medical bills they’re otherwise unable to afford.
The legislation is a direct challenge to the nonprofit hospital industry. In recent years, hospitals have done well financially, raking in $90 billion in profits from 2017 to 2019. Sanders wants to ensure that nonprofit hospitals don’t just hoard those funds but, instead, use them to provide much needed charitable care assistance to those who need it most.
Nonprofit hospitals have responded to Senator Sanders’ bill with skepticism. Some have argued that his bill is an unfair tax on hospitals and will lead to an overall decrease in quality of care and higher medical costs for patients.
The debate over this legislative proposal is far from over. For now, it remains to be seen whether nonprofit hospitals will act with greater altruism or continue to support the status quo. It’s clear however, that Sanders is determined to ensure that all patients, regardless of their income, can receive the treatment they need and deserve.