Hospital systems in Colorado saw improved finances in 2024, but Medicaid cuts are ‘looming threat’
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Introduction:
The news topic “Hospital systems in Colorado saw improved finances in 2024, but Medicaid cuts are ‘looming threat’” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.
Quick Summary:
- Only CommonSpirit Health lost money on its operations at the national level. Denver Health, AdventHealth, HCA Healthcare and Intermountain Health didn’t release state-level numbers. The average expenses to operate a hospital in Colorado rose about 7.4% last year, continuing a pattern of costs outpacing revenues.Nationwide, hospitals averaged a 4.9% profit margin in 2024, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Close to two in five hospitals lost money, though, and the outlook remains “challenging,” a hospital official says.“At those levels, it”s incredibly difficult for (insurance) reimbursement to keep up,’ he says. “2023 was a “pretty dire” financial year, and while 2024 improved slightly, most hospitals aren”t yet in a sustainable position, he adds.
- Only CommonSpirit Health lost money on its operations at the national level. Denver Health, AdventHealth, HCA Healthcare and Intermountain Health didn’t release state-level numbers. The average expenses to operate a hospital in Colorado rose about 7.4% last year, continuing a pattern of costs outpacing revenues.Nationwide, hospitals averaged a 4.9% profit margin in 2024, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Close to two in five hospitals lost money, though, and the outlook remains “challenging,” a hospital official says.“At those levels, it”s incredibly difficult for (insurance) reimbursement to keep up,’ he says. “2023 was a “pretty dire” financial year, and while 2024 improved slightly, most hospitals aren”t yet in a sustainable position, he adds.
- Denver voters agreed to increase the sales tax by 0.34 percentage points, which works out to 34 cents on a $100 purchase, to help the city’s struggling safety-net hospital. Denver Health expects to receive just over $5 million per month from the tax, which took effect in January. The health system lost about $35 million in 2022, then turned a $17 million profit in 2023 – still a narrow margin for an organization that doesn’t turn a profit. The $65 million in sales tax this year will help to offset some of the roughly $145 million in uncompensated care that the health system expects to provide in 2025, CEO Donna Lynne told a Denver City Council committee on Wednesday. But it won’t be enough to make up for deep cuts to Medicaid if Congress follows through this fall, she said.
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Original Coverage
Only CommonSpirit Health lost money on its operations at the national level. Denver Health, AdventHealth, HCA Healthcare and Intermountain Health didn’t release state-level numbers. The average expenses to operate a hospital in Colorado rose about 7.4% last year, continuing a pattern of costs outpacing revenues.Nationwide, hospitals averaged a 4.9% profit margin in 2024, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Close to two in five hospitals lost money, though, and the outlook remains “challenging,” a hospital official says.“At those levels, it”s incredibly difficult for (insurance) reimbursement to keep up,’ he says. “2023 was a “pretty dire” financial year, and while 2024 improved slightly, most hospitals aren”t yet in a sustainable position, he adds. Read full article
Hospital systems in Colorado saw improved finances in 2024, but Medicaid cuts are ‘looming threat’
Only CommonSpirit Health lost money on its operations at the national level. Denver Health, AdventHealth, HCA Healthcare and Intermountain Health didn’t release state-level numbers. The average expenses to operate a hospital in Colorado rose about 7.4% last year, continuing a pattern of costs outpacing revenues.Nationwide, hospitals averaged a 4.9% profit margin in 2024, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Close to two in five hospitals lost money, though, and the outlook remains “challenging,” a hospital official says.“At those levels, it”s incredibly difficult for (insurance) reimbursement to keep up,’ he says. “2023 was a “pretty dire” financial year, and while 2024 improved slightly, most hospitals aren”t yet in a sustainable position, he adds. Read full article
Denver Health unveils plan for $65 million coming from new sales tax this year
Denver voters agreed to increase the sales tax by 0.34 percentage points, which works out to 34 cents on a $100 purchase, to help the city’s struggling safety-net hospital. Denver Health expects to receive just over $5 million per month from the tax, which took effect in January. The health system lost about $35 million in 2022, then turned a $17 million profit in 2023 – still a narrow margin for an organization that doesn’t turn a profit. The $65 million in sales tax this year will help to offset some of the roughly $145 million in uncompensated care that the health system expects to provide in 2025, CEO Donna Lynne told a Denver City Council committee on Wednesday. But it won’t be enough to make up for deep cuts to Medicaid if Congress follows through this fall, she said. Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Sources:
- Original Article
- Hospital systems in Colorado saw improved finances in 2024, but Medicaid cuts are ‘looming threat’
- Denver Health unveils plan for $65 million coming from new sales tax this year
Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2025/05/11/colorado-hospital-finances-uchealth-denver-health/