What to Ask (About) a Hospital

Hospitals provide essential health care, making it crucial to ensure that hospitals maintain financial viability and can readily provide care to the communities they serve. At the same time, spending on hospital services makes up the largest proportion of total national health expenditures, and hospital prices are a key driver of spending. To craft targeted, effective reforms to reduce spending and ensure quality care, policymakers must understand the regulations, payment programs, and reporting requirements that apply to hospitals.

Through a collection of fact-sheets on hospital payment streams, various designations, and key sources of information, this guide offers a starting point to understand the organizational and financial differences across hospitals in the United States. Flip through the guide below, or download a complete copy here.