US Public Hospitals

[SomeRandom]

So this is yet more of my curiosity coming out.

How does this work in the US?
How are they even funded if healthcare in the US is privatised?
Like do the owners have to pay landlords or is it like a charity kind of thing?
Surely there’s a couple “free clinics” as America calls them, somewhere?

Like here we have both private and public hospitals.
All public hospitals get their funding from the state health department as well as some from the federal health department.
Private hospitals are…well privatised lol

 

[lewisnotmiller]

So this is yet more of my curiosity coming out.

How does this work in the US?
How are they even funded if healthcare in the US is privatised?
Like do the owners have to pay landlords or is it like a charity kind of thing?
Surely there’s a couple “free clinics” as America calls them, somewhere?

Like here we have both private and public hospitals.
All public hospitals get their funding from the state health department as well as some from the federal health department.
Private hospitals are…well privatised lol

Couple of quick addendums on the Australian hospital thing.
Private hospitals here receive funding too (albeit via a different model) and hospitals can be both private AND public, all at the same time.
(Procedures at the same hospital can be private or public, basically. I assume they do it just to complicate my life when designing software solutions...lol)

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Public here in the US is generally taken as meaning owned and operated by a government agency. The federal Veteran's Administration, for example, operates its own system of hospitals across the country. Many counties and municipalities operate hospitals.

Private can mean for profit (very few hospitals) or nonprofit/not for profit/charitable/whatever (actually the majority of hospitals in the US).

The funding depends on a complex, complicated system of private and public insurance coverage, as well as user charges/costs for services.

 

[Stonetree]

Public here in the US is generally taken as meaning owned and operated by a government agency. The federal Veteran's Administration, for example, operates its own system of hospitals across the country. Many counties and municipalities operate hospitals.

Private can mean for profit (very few hospitals) or nonprofit/not for profit/charitable/whatever (actually the majority of hospitals in the US).

The funding depends on a complex, complicated system of private and public insurance coverage, as well as user charges/costs for services.

As I understand it, hospitals are reimbursed for services rendered....Whether the system is private or public, hospitals submit a bill to either the government agency that administers public health care or in the case of reimbursing private hospitals the bill is sent to private insurance agencies....I believe...

 

[Twilight Hue]

So this is yet more of my curiosity coming out.

How does this work in the US?
How are they even funded if healthcare in the US is privatised?
Like do the owners have to pay landlords or is it like a charity kind of thing?
Surely there’s a couple “free clinics” as America calls them, somewhere?

Like here we have both private and public hospitals.
All public hospitals get their funding from the state health department as well as some from the federal health department.
Private hospitals are…well privatised lol

Most government hospitals in my area are county owned enterprises. Things like federal and state would be like the Veterans hospitals for which the latter is closest to the push for UHC.

 

[Twilight Hue]

As I understand it, hospitals are reimbursed for services rendered....Whether the system is private or public, hospitals submit a bill to either the government agency that administers public health care or in the case of reimbursing private hospitals the bill is sent to private insurance agencies....I believe...

It's a voucher system over here. Goes through things like Blue Cross, Independent health corporations for the bulk revenue.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Here in India, Government hospitals provide all things, treatment, tests, medicine (except when the medicine or the material for tests may not be available in their store. In that case poor people can get reimbursed. If people go to private hospitals, the poor again can get reimbursement. So the service is tilted towards the poor. I would not be eligible for any reimbursement, but I can get free treatment at government hospitals. The problem is that the government hospitals are very crowded and it would take a whole day to sit/stand in a Que to consult a doctor. That is where connections help.

 

[SomeRandom]

Most government hospitals in my area are county owned enterprises. Things like federal and state would be like the Veterans hospitals for which the latter is closest to the push for UHC.

Can I ask, are hospitals allowed not to treat someone who is without funds?
(Obviously excluding emergencies and the like.)

 

[Twilight Hue]

Can I ask, are hospitals allowed not to treat someone who is without funds?
(Obviously excluding emergencies and the like.)

I dunno. The very first question I get isn't, " How are you doing"? It's, "Do you have insurance"?

In life-threatening situations, as mentioned already, I do know its illegal for hospitals to deny the nessessary treatment for the purpose of saving, or at least attempt to save a person's life whom has no insurance.

Most I think will refuse service to those who have no insurance.

 

[SomeRandom]

I dunno. The very first question I get isn't, " How are you doing"? It's, "Do you have insurance"?

In life-threatening situations, as mentioned already, I do know its illegal for hospitals to deny the nessessary treatment for the purpose of saving, or at least attempt to save a person's life whom has no insurance.

Most I think will refuse service to those who have no insurance.

Wow.
That’s honestly quite harsh
I think even those on Visa stays here get full access to our public hospital services for free

So you know, you can stay at mine if you’re ever in need. Just bring a couple nice bourbons through duty free as “payment for board.”

 

[pearl]

How are they even funded if healthcare in the US is privatised?

Mostly through insurance of some kind. Private, Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act.
Some private hospitals do not accept government funded insurance, some hospitals are known
as 'not for profit hospitals', others are big business in that they are a chain.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

As I understand it, hospitals are reimbursed for services rendered....Whether the system is private or public, hospitals submit a bill to either the government agency that administers public health care or in the case of reimbursing private hospitals the bill is sent to private insurance agencies....I believe...

In almost all cases, the patient is billed for services. The hospital usually sends to Medicare, Medicaid, VA, private insurance, etc., on behalf of the patient who is covered by said programs, for reimbursement. Sometimes the patient ends up with nothing to pay, sometimes a little, and sometimes a lot...depends of program coverages, exact services rendered, etc.

Hospitals of all sorts are required to provide emergency care regardless of ability to pay, but that care may be to keep the patient alive until transfer can be provided. Nonprofit/not for profit/charitable/etc., are expected to provide services for indigent/unable to pay, but it is set as a percentage of their costs/expenditures. Every year, there are hospitals that lose their nonprofit/not for profit/charitable status because they violate these rules...and often get reestablished by the next year by making the necessary changes/pay fines.

 

[Sand Dancer]

So this is yet more of my curiosity coming out.

How does this work in the US?
How are they even funded if healthcare in the US is privatised?
Like do the owners have to pay landlords or is it like a charity kind of thing?
Surely there’s a couple “free clinics” as America calls them, somewhere?

Like here we have both private and public hospitals.
All public hospitals get their funding from the state health department as well as some from the federal health department.
Private hospitals are…well privatised lol

Many hospitals are run by churches. Sadly, they are not open to all forms of service.

 

[Shaul]

So this is yet more of my curiosity coming out.

How does this work in the US?
How are they even funded if healthcare in the US is privatised?
Like do the owners have to pay landlords or is it like a charity kind of thing?
Surely there’s a couple “free clinics” as America calls them, somewhere?

Like here we have both private and public hospitals.
All public hospitals get their funding from the state health department as well as some from the federal health department.
Private hospitals are…well privatised lol

The United States healthcare system is heterogeneous. A hospital may be private, semi-private or public. A public hospital or clinic is owned by the community, a non-profit organization or a government entity. They are funded by a combination of public funds, private contributions and patient billings for services. For example a community may establish the hospital via a public bond (voted on in an election) which builds the facility. The recurring costs are paid by patients who use the facility although usually by the patient’s insurance provider.

The United States hospitals run the spectrum of financial models. This gives Americans more choices.

 

[Shaul]

Many hospitals are run by churches. Sadly, they are not open to all forms of service.

Why do you say sadly? Church run hospitals are simply one type of provider. If they don’t provide the particular service someone wants there are other providers in the marketplace that do.

 

[Sand Dancer]

The United States healthcare system is heterogeneous. A hospital may be private, semi-private or public. A public hospital or clinic is owned by the community, a non-profit organization or a government entity. They are funded by a combination of public funds, private contributions and patient billings for services. For example a community may establish the hospital via a public bond (voted on in an election) which builds the facility. The recurring costs are paid by patients who use the facility although usually by the patient’s insurance provider.

The United States hospitals run the spectrum of financial models. This gives Americans more choices.

Yes, but sometimes the services are not universal.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Why do you say sadly? Church run hospitals are simply one type of provider. If they don’t provide the particular service someone wants there are other providers in the marketplace that do.

What if in an emergency you don't have access to a hospital that provides services you need? Time is critical. Hospitals are closing in rural areas.

 

[Shaul]

Yes, but sometimes the services are not universal.

That depends on what you mean. In the United States all Emergency Rooms are required by law to admit and treat anyone that comes in regardless of ability to pay. That means that there is universal emergency healthcare in the United States.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

That depends on what you mean. In the United States all Emergency Rooms are required by law to admit and treat anyone that comes in regardless of ability to pay. That means that there is universal emergency healthcare in the United States.

Yes, but as soon as the patient is stabilized, they can be transferred if they can't pay, or another hospital can provide better or more appropriate care.

 

[Shaul]

What if in an emergency you don't have access to a hospital that provides services you need? Time is critical. Hospitals are closing in rural areas.

You were talking about church run hospitals which are mostly in urban areas. Yes, rural hospitals are struggling and many are closing. On the other hand there are mitigations. Mobile treatment facilities, satellite facilities from urban hospitals and telemedicine are offsets. Please emergency service is available through 911 telephone calls to all but the most isolated cases. Again, emergency care is provided regardless of patient financial ability to pay.