MIAMI, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued today by Linda S. Quick, President of the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association, regarding lawsuits filed against nonprofit hospitals: “Our legal system continues to be clogged by the filing of baseless and misdirected lawsuits against hospitals, diverting focus away from the real issue -- how we should work together to extend affordable healthcare coverage to all Americans.
“Recent lawsuits filed against not-for-profit hospitals will consume already limited healthcare resources hospitals need to continue their daily work of caring for the uninsured and all other patients in their communities. This misdirection will only harm an already fragile system that is begging for more community involvement -- including the uninsured patients themselves, community leaders, the government, healthcare professionals and others -- and less litigation.
“Let’s not forget that in South Florida, not-for-profit and profit hospitals provide uninsured patients quality healthcare everyday, and many patients either receive discounted rates for that care or pay nothing at all. In fact, Florida hospitals collect less than 10 percent of charges from uninsured patients, and in South Florida, many hospitals collect less than that.
“South Florida hospitals tended to more than 55,000 cases, during a one- year period, without receiving any compensation for them. Specifically, Baptist Health South Florida, a stellar not-for-profit healthcare organization, offers medical, technical and service excellence. Baptist’s leaders, board of directors, staff and volunteers are deeply committed to South Florida, so much in fact that they continually reinvest in the community by giving their own time and resources to other not-for-profit organizations, including the American Red Cross, among several.
“The plight of the uninsured is a national crisis that requires dialogue among all the interested parties -- government (federal, state and local), the insurance industry, hospitals, doctors, the business community -- in order to develop a comprehensive solution. We urge everyone to be part of all efforts that sincerely and legitimately look to find a solution to this national crisis.”
For more information, contact the South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association at 954-964-1660.
South Florida Hospital & Healthcare Association
CONTACT: Linda S. Quick, President, South Florida Hospital & HealthcareAssociation, +1-954-964-1660
Web site: http://www.sfhha.com/