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"@type": "Question",
"name": "what are the key findings regarding private equity acquisitions of hospitals?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Research suggests that hospitals acquired by private equity firms may be selecting healthier heart failure patients, increasing the use of cardiac catheterization, and perhaps transferring out Black patients at a higher rate. These practices raise concerns about prioritizing profits over patient care."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Why is there concern about increased cardiac catheterization in private equity-acquired hospitals?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "The increased use of cardiac catheterization, a highly reimbursed procedure, in hospitals acquired by private equity firms is concerning as it occurs even when patients have a lower clinical risk profile. This raises suspicions that hospitals might potentially be incentivized to perform more profitable procedures, potentially at the expense of appropriate patient care."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "How might private equity acquisitions affect patient outcomes in hospitals?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Studies indicate that private equity takeovers of hospitals may worsen care quality and outcomes. For example,a 2023 study showed a 25% increase in hospital-acquired adverse events,such as falls and central-line infections,in hospitals acquired by private equity firms."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What is the role of the Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "The Medicare Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, initiated in 2012, penalizes hospitals with higher-than-expected 30-day readmission rates for
