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Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for July 31, 2017
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
July 31, 2017: In 2015, the nation’s seven largest hospitals took in $33.9 billion in revenue. That reflected a 15% increase in the first two years that Obamacare was in effect. Politico reports that “Obamacare may have been a mixed blessing for those seeking coverage … but it’s been a clear boon for the nation’s hospitals.”[1]
Over a slightly longer time frame, the results are even more pronounced. In 2008, the year Barack Obama was elected president and pledged to overhaul the healthcare system, the hospital industry’s profit margin was 2.6%. In 2015, the profit margin was more than three times larger at 8.3%.[1]
Politico notes that “hospitals are required to provide community benefits in order to keep tax exemptions that, collectively, are worth billions of dollars.” However, while revenues have gone up since the passage of the healthcare bill, the free services offered to low-income patients declined from $414 million in 2013 to $272 million in 2015.[1]
Data is not yet available for 2016.
Tim Carney of the Washington Examiner notes that many media outlets report on the Hospital Association’s opposition to repeal as if it’s coming from a medical authority. He suggests that it might be better to identify the group as a lobbying organization that benefits from the existing law.[2]
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.
- July 28, 2017 – 66 of the nation’s 100 largest cities allow homesharing with minimal regulation
- July 27, 2017 – 15 million Americans would opt out of Obamacare coverage if they could
- July 26, 2017 – 15.3 percent of U.S. workforce on the government payroll
- July 25, 2017 – 57 years ago today Greensboro lunch counter de-segregated
- July 24, 2017 – 121,000 pounds of cocaine seized by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents
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Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
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