Resources debunk hospital merger myths, study

A new AHA resource debunks the top eight myths about hospital and health system mergers, such as misconceptions that they lead to higher costs for patients, large variation between public and private payment rates, and less access to care. 
 
In addition, a new comment paper by economists from Charles River Associates finds fault with a recent study on hospital consolidation and quality. “Beyond the ambiguity resulting from the inconsistencies in the authors’ findings, we believe that important limitations in their analyses caution against relying on their research,” they write. 
 
For more on how patients benefit when hospitals come together, visit https://www.aha.org/bibliographylink-page/2018-04-20-value-hospital-mergers