Which of the following is not true regarding for-profit healthcare businesses

In the world of healthcare facilities, the for-profit model is becoming increasingly popular. 

In fact, the number of for-profit hospitals in America is growing, and more and more nonprofit hospitals are exploring potential transitions to an investor-owned financial model.  

While traditional wisdom once held that nonprofit hospitals maintain a firm advantage over for-profit hospitals—potentially indicated by the 3:1 nonprofit to for-profit ratio in the U.S.—the tides seem to be turning.  

But what’s making the grass seem so much greener under the for-profit model? And how different are the benefits of these two ownership types? 

What is a nonprofit hospital?

Nonprofit (also known as not-for-profit or NFP) hospitals qualify as charities according to the IRS, meaning they are not required to pay property tax, state or federal income tax, or sales tax. 

In exchange for this tax-free existence, nonprofit hospitals are expected to distribute any additional capital back into their surrounding communities. Because of this, however, nonprofit hospitals face regular scrutiny by healthcare policymakers concerned with whether and how the facilities follow through and contribute to their communities in a meaningful way that justifies the generous tax exemptions they receive. 

What is a for-profit hospital?

For-profit hospitals, on the other hand, are investor-owned. Unlike nonprofit hospitals, these facilities aim to make profits for their shareholders. Some of the largest for-profit hospital chains in the U.S. include Hospital Corporation of America, Tenet and HealthSouth.  

For-profit facilities like these are generally among the highest-billing hospitals in the country. 

How do nonprofit and for-profit hospital operations compare?

When it comes to day-to-day functions, it can be hard to differentiate the two ownership types. From a physician’s standpoint, the two operate similarly, generally relying on standard corporate hierarchies for organizational structure. One marked difference is that for-profit hospitals typically use considerable portions of their available budget for marketing and advertising initiatives, as compared with nonprofit facilities. 

The concept of hospital advertising raises many ethical questions among industry experts. Some say these funds can, instead, be better used to improve patient experience or quality of care. Others question the benefits of advertising at all, as many for-profit hospitals exist in areas where there are few competing hospitals from which to choose. 

For-profit hospitals tend to serve lower-income populations, while nonprofit hospitals are generally found in communities with higher average incomes and fewer under- and uninsured patients. 

Looking into the uncompensated care disparity, Definitive Healthcare data is able to offer some insights. On average, nonprofit hospitals maintain higher bad debt to net patient revenue (NPR) ratios than their for-profit counterparts, although the for-profit hospitals with the highest bad debt to NPR ratios tend to maintain higher ratios than nonprofit facilities. 

Surprisingly, one 2020 study found that nonprofit and for-profit hospitals provide similar levels of charity care—another type of uncompensated care—when examined as a percentage of total expenses. 

Learn more 

Want to learn more about uncompensated care and how significant the impact of bad debt can be? Read our blog, Balancing uncompensated care and hospital bad debt. 

Or, watch this webinar replay to learn how the healthcare market has evolved to meet new industry demands following the COVID-19 outbreak. 

For a closer look at the healthcare commercial intelligence behind our blogs and webinars, sign up for a free trial today.  

​Q: What is a not-for-profit hospital?

A:The not-for-profit designation recognizes the valuable work performed by charitable, religious, cultural, educational, and other organizations, including hospitals. Nonprofit hospitals have a long history of providing health care for all, including those who cannot pay. Due to their charitable status, not-for-profit hospitals are exempt from most federal and state taxes but not from other taxes, like Social Security and Medicare taxes. The term “non-profit" or “not-for-profit" means that the hospital's profits are returned to the hospital for its operations rather than to shareholders.

Watch this short video to learn more:

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Q: So, do not-for-profit hospitals make a profit?

A:  Like any other financially viable organization, a not-for-profit hospital must take in more than it pays out in salaries, equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and operations.  Not-for-profit hospitals invest the excess of revenue over expenses back into the facility to provide health care services to the community it serves. These investments include new services, access points, replacement equipment, and technology. Not-for-profit hospitals are not publicly traded and do not pay dividends to shareholders like for-profit companies.

Q: What do hospitals do in exchange for not paying taxes?

A:The special tax status a not-for-profit hospital receives is intended to acknowledge the community benefit provided by these institutions. By federal law, hospitals must provide community benefits specifically defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Community benefit includes charity care, the uncompensated cost of providing Medicaid, the education and training of health care professionals, and other efforts that include promoting health.

To ensure the community benefits meet the community's needs, the federal government requires all tax-exempt hospitals to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment every three years. An Implementation Strategy is developed based on the health needs identified in the assessment. The hospitals must measure and report on the impact of their programs, and they must also report annually to the IRS on certain taxes.

Community benefits must react to a specific community need recognized in the assessment and meet at least one of the following:

• Improve access to health care services
• Enhance the health of the community
• Advance medical or health knowledge
• Relieve or reduce the burden of government or other community health efforts

It's important to recognize that hospitals provide many services that do not result in revenue to the organization. Lifesaving trauma services, maternity care, and general medicine are three areas where hospitals often lose money but strive to maintain these vital services. Hospital reserve funds are used to cover the costs of this care.

Q: It seems like some hospitals have huge reserves.  Why do they need all of that money?

A:  The amount of reserves varies greatly and depends on many factors. It's important to remember that not-for-profit hospitals have two ways to pay for capital investments - - cash reserves and by issuing bonds. Bond-rating agencies set benchmarks for credit ratings – and just like your personal credit rating, the higher your credit score, the more you are viewed as a trustworthy investment by lenders.  Not-for-profit hospitals and other public entities, including the state of Indiana and public universities, issue bonds for major investments, including replacing outdated facilities, building new sites of care, offering new services, and upgrading technology. Some hospitals, especially those in rural areas or those that serve communities with high poverty levels, may struggle to access capital.

Q: If not-for-profits don't pay taxes, why not require them to invest in an economic development project in their communities?

A:  The primary purpose of a not-for-profit hospital is to provide health care services to the communities they serve. They invest in their facilities and work with other community partners to address health care needs. Hospitals provide tremendous economic impact in their communities through these investments, employment, and the purchase of goods and services. Most recent 2022  data show that Indiana hospitals provide $3.7B in economic community benefits that impact all of Indiana.

Q:  Why not require hospitals to invest a certain percentage of reserves in their communities?

A:   Hospitals currently undertake a Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the health needs in their service area.  The CHNA ensures that hospitals support efforts that are truly a community priority.  Setting a threshold for other community investments would detract from the hospital's core purpose: providing health care services. Hospitals often play a major role in partnering with local governments, businesses, and other stakeholders on key projects. But these decisions should be made locally, not by state mandates in Indianapolis.

Requiring a set percentage also assumes that hospitals have no fluctuations in investment income and earnings, which is inaccurate. This would be especially problematic for rural, not-for-profit hospitals and those that serve impoverished communities. These facilities are very fragile, and for many, it is a daily struggle to continue to provide services. Setting an arbitrary level could well mean the difference between keeping the doors open or closing them altogether.

​Download the Not For Profit Q&A in PDF form here.

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