Publisher’s Notebook: What’s behind the hospital profits?

The question looms large, given a recent report by the Colorado Hospital Association that showed huge increases in hospital profits from patient carestatewide, including at most hospitals in Northern Colorado. Sixty-five hospitals across the state posted earnings of $195 million from patient care last year, an increase of 8.9 percent from $179 million reportedthe previous year. Among Northern Colorado hospitals, Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins experienced the heftiest increase in profits – known among nonprofitfacilities as patient service margins – soaring 390 percent to $8.9 million last year from $1.8 million in 1994. Next came North Colorado Medical
Center…