COVID relief funds helped almost 75% of U.S. hospitals post positive operating income during the height of the pandemic, according to a new analysis that questions if the federal aid was too generous or misdirected. The findings counter the industry narrative that the pandemic left many facilities in the red and grappling with the surging costs of care amid supply chain and labor shortages.
Hospital operating margins — the difference between operating revenues and expenses — hit an all-time high during the first two years (2020 and 2021) of the pandemic, per the analysis in JAMA Health Forum, Axios reports.
The findings counter the industry narrative that the pandemic left many facilities in the red and grappling with the surging costs of care amid supply chain and labor shortages. Read more.
