Hospital care is the single largest component of national health care spending, and according to Elisabeth Rosenthal, M.D., an expert interviewed in the documentary, hospitals “are the single biggest source of price increases in the last century.” Even for so-called non-profit hospitals, hospital care is big business. While patients rely on hospitals when they are sick or critically injured, scared and desperately seeking treatment for urgent medical issues, hospitals often abuse vulnerable patients. For example:

• One study found that only 42% of hospitals informed patients when they could be eligible for charity care.
• 71% of nonprofit hospitals charge uninsured patients at higher rates.
• 20% of nonprofit hospitals sue patients for nonpayment.
• 90% of hospital markets in the U.S. are now consolidated, allowing them to charge higher prices without increasing the quality of care.
• Non-profit hospitals get massive tax benefits and are exempt from federal and local taxes that pay for roads, public safety and other community services
• The highest paid non-profit CEOs are mostly hospital heads, and not only at large hospital systems. Even smaller hospitals pay their top executives enormous salaries.

“No patient should have to make the choice between having access to the health care they need or risk facing astronomical hospital bills just so their local hospital can increase their profits,” said the Honorable Donna Christensen, Consumers for Quality Care board member, physician and former Member of Congress. “