Hospitals dispute who should pay for needy patients, with taxpayers in the middle
A behind-the-scenes tussle is playing out at the state Capitol over who should pay an additional $175 million to take care of poor and uninsured hospital patients across Texas: the state or local taxpayers in eight counties, including Travis.
The issue has sparked friction between 160 private hospitals and the eight public hospitals that already put up local tax dollars to reimburse all types of hospitals for caring for the needy. It pits two Central Texas health systems against each other: the private St. David’s HealthCare and the Seton Healthcare Family, which operates the publicly owned University Medical Center Brackenridge.
In addition, the Travis County Commissioners Court has jumped into the fray, saying it sees an effort by private hospitals to grab local tax money.
“This private hospital initiative violates the principles of local control and accountability that you have long espoused, and is not in the best interest of local taxpayers,” the commissioners said in a letter Tuesday to the governor and other state leaders.
More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/hospitals-dispute-who-should-pay-for-needy-patient/nWtWH/ .