As it has done annually for years, the Board of Regents last week approved a University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics across-the-board 6% rate increase in health care services starting next month — the highest allowed in many UIHC contracts with insurance providers.
“Given UIHC’s low charge levels, it would be reasonable to increase charges more than 6 percent,” according to a UI request. “However, given the cap on charge increases in many of its contracts, it is most prudent to cap the increase proposal to 6 percent.”
Compared with peer academic institutions, officials told the board, UIHC rates are “relatively low.” UI peer institutions include the universities of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin — all of which have affiliated hospitals and health care systems, The Gazette reports. Read more.