Bill Overview
Title: Oversight of Anti-Competitive Behavior of Non-Profit Hospitals Act
Description: This bill provides the Federal Trade Commission with enforcement authority over certain tax-exempt, hospital or cooperative hospital service organizations.
Sponsors: Rep. Spartz, Victoria [R-IN-5]
Target Audience
Population: People who receive treatment at non-profit hospitals
Estimated Size: 70000000
- Non-profit hospitals account for a significant portion of the hospital sector globally.
- Many non-profit hospitals exist in both developed and developing countries.
- According to WHO, in many countries, a substantial percentage of hospital beds are in non-profit or government-run facilities.
Reasoning
- We need to include a range of individuals who interact with non-profit hospitals in different ways and to varying extents. This will help us understand the spread and variation of impacts across different segments of the population.
- The budget constraints suggest that while many might be aware of the policy, its direct effect will be broad but perhaps not very deep in its early stages. Therefore, most individuals might experience only a low to medium impact.
- Since non-profit hospitals are a major part of the US healthcare system, especially for underserved communities, we're likely to see effects among lower-income groups and those with frequent healthcare needs.
- We will have a mix of direct beneficiaries (e.g., lower healthcare costs, improved services) and indirect ones (e.g., better resource allocation or transparency leading to systemic improvements).
- Given the nature of the policy targeting anti-competitive actions, some individuals might not feel an impact immediately due to the intermediate nature of regulatory changes on personal experiences.
Simulated Interviews
Registered Nurse (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this will ensure more resources are directed to patient care rather than administrative overhead.
- Transparency is crucial for maintaining trust with patients and staff.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 72 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rural hospitals like ours need this oversight to ensure we aren't forgotten.
- It could help ensure fair pricing and services.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (New York, NY)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could hopefully lower my healthcare costs.
- I am concerned about availability of emergency services due to financial issues at hospitals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Hospital Administrator (Miami, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Frequent oversight can streamline our operations but may add red tape initially.
- We need to balance compliance with continuing to focus on patient care best practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software Engineer (Portland, OR)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't see an immediate impact personally but it sounds good for the system overall.
- My interactions with hospitals are limited so this feels a little distant.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Health Policy Analyst (Chicago, IL)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is a necessary move to ensure fair practices and guard against monopoly
- Positive implications for healthcare equity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Construction Worker (Pittsburgh, PA)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If hospital services get better and cheaper, that's a big win for me and my co-workers.
- Hospitals shouldn't prioritize profits over patient care.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
College Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this leads to lower healthcare costs post-graduation, I’ll be less anxious about unexpected medical bills.
- This policy could be crucial for recent graduates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Homeless (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Non-profits need oversight to ensure they aren't exploitative.
- Hopefully, services for people like me will get better with more regulation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
University Professor (Boston, MA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a positive move towards ensuring non-profits operate with the public interest in mind.
- Long-term, we should see improvements in service quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $32000000 (Low: $26000000, High: $42000000)
Year 3: $34000000 (Low: $27000000, High: $44000000)
Year 5: $36000000 (Low: $28000000, High: $46000000)
Year 10: $38000000 (Low: $29000000, High: $48000000)
Year 100: $56000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- The readiness of the FTC to handle expanded responsibilities involving non-profit hospitals.
- Potential resistance from the hospital sector against increased regulation.
- The complexity of proving anti-competitive behavior in healthcare, which may affect enforcement efficiency.