John C. Lincoln Health Network in Phoenix has halted the construction
of new patient tower at its North Mountain Hospital; Banner Health is
delaying the opening of its Ironwood hospital in Queen Creek; St.
Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix is cutting employee
perks and its parent company, Catholic Healthcare West, stopped new
equipment purchases, according to the report.
A survey funded by St. Luke’s Health Initiatives and other community
groups found that more than 1.1 million Arizonans are struggling with
medical debt.
John C. Lincoln reported that its network’s insured patients did not
pay $4 million in bills last year, a 26 percent increase over 2007, and
that the organization has experienced a large drop in paying patients
willing to undergo elective procedures, according to The Arizona
Republic.
Read The Arizona Republic’s report on Arizona hospital cutbacks.
