A delicate balancing act.

Abstract

This week, Modern Healthcare begins a two-part series examining the growing number of sales of not-for-profit hospitals to for-profit chains and the consequences of those sales for the communities involved. The stories in this installment explore whether a community benefits more from having an investor-owned hospital that pays taxes or a tax-exempt hospital that provides more charity care. They also review how this issue played out in Oklahoma City 10 years after a sale. Next week: a look at whether charitable foundations created with the proceeds of sales of not-for-profits deliver on their promises. Also, an analysis of Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.'s strategy of acquiring not-for-profits through partnership arrangements.