Uncompensated Care Declines at West Virginia Hospitals

An advocacy group says declines in uncompensated care have saved West Virginia hospitals millions of dollars.

State data compiled by West Virginians for Affordable Health Care show more than two dozen hospitals saved a total of more than $265 million from 2013 to 2014.

The group’s founder and former director, Perry Bryant, told The Charleston Gazette-Mail that hospitals should use these savings to improve the health of their communities.

Bryant says Charleston Area Medical Center’s charity care and bad debt dropped by 47 percent, from $137 million to $72.6 million. West Virginia University Hospitals’ uncompensated care fell by 54 percent, from $94 million to $43 million.

Since 2013, more than 200,000 West Virginians have obtained health insurance through Medicaid or the health insurance marketplace.