Article: Alaska hospitals ask more uninsured for prepayment.

Byline: Margaret Bauman

Jan. 2--The rising costs of health care, coupled with a rapid increase in ranks of the uninsured have created an overall worrisome financial situation for Alaska hospitals for 2005. The problem has even prompted a few hospitals to start asking for some cash up front.

"While hospitals want to and are required to treat people who show up in their emergency rooms, in the end somebody has to pay for that," said Rod Betit, president of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association.

It's not just emergency care that has hospital administrators concerned.

"The overall financial situation is worrisome," he ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!