Illinois Safety Net
Hospitals
The Numbers Tell the Story:
The 52 disproportionate share hospitals in Illinois have an
impact that is bigger than their numbers. While
representing only 27% of our state's hospitals, DSH
hospitals account for:
- 26% of all
admissions and 29% of inpatient days
- 44% of all
Medicaid discharges and 52% of Medicaid days
- 21% of all
Medicare discharges and 23% of Medicare days
- 25% of
emergency room visits
- 39% of all
uncompensated care, including 34% of charity care and 41%
of bad debt
DSH hospitals provide lifesaving emergency care and care
for fragile newborns.
- Six DSH
hospitals are Level 1 trauma centers; another 5 are Level 2
centers.
- Two out of
three DSH hospitals provide perinatal services to high risk
newborns.
DSH hospitals' mission of serving the poor and uninsured
takes a financial toll. In 1996 DSH hospitals:
- Had an
average patient margin of minus 13.4%. Three out of four
DSH hospitals had negative patient margins.
Cuts in government funding have a dramatic impact on DSH
providers. That's because:
- DSH
hospitals depend on state and federal government for 57% of
their revenue.
Revised 1/05
|