ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A new report by the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition concluded that St. Louis hospitals are charging businesses and insurance companies more than their fair market value.
Since 2013, St. Louis hospital patient revenue has grown 51%, while workers’ wages in Missouri have grown 29%. Healthcare spending grew 56% on the national scale, meaning that the St. Louis area is about on par with the national average. Insurance companies have raised Missouri premiums by 49%.
According to the report, BJC Healthcare’s largest hospital, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, charged private insurers over three times what Medicare paid for the same services. The report states that all BJC Hospitals charge above the fair price of what Medicare reimburses. A fair price is reportedly 200% above the mark.
While the report focused heavily on cost, it also noted that six St. Louis hospitals received a Leapfrog Safety Grade of “A” in spring 2024. In addition, St. Louis is home to four hospitals that received a top score of 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
Copyright 2024 KMOV. All rights reserved.