Catholic hospitals gain prevalence as watchdogs worry about women's health
As of this year, 14.5 percent of all acute care hospitals in the country are Catholic-owned or affiliated.
Catholic hospitals and health systems are on the rise in the United States, but patients' rights watchdog MergerWatch is claiming that trend will limit women's ability to obtain reproductive health services.
Catholic hospitals operate under ethical directives that prohibit services such contraception, abortion, sterilization and infertility services. Compliance with these directives may vary, but most are beholden to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which prohibits any procedure that can interfere with the conception or birth of a child.
The MergerWatch report -- an update of its 2013 edition -- included Catholic hospitals acquired by secular health systems that continue to follow religious directives, as well as public or nonprofit hospitals managed or owned by Catholic health systems, even if they claim no particular affiliation.
[Also: Physicians Realty Trust buys Catholic Health Initiatives facilities in $725 million deal]
In a statement, Sister Carol Keehan, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, called the report's implications about women's health "unsubstantiated and irresponsible," adding, "To frighten families with scary, one-sided stories and exaggerated data is grossly disrespectful to the thousands of physicians, midwives and nurses working in Catholic hospitals who are so devoted to their patients and to the care they deliver."
As of this year, 14.5 percent of all acute care hospitals in the country are Catholic-owned or affiliated, the data found. Between 2001 and 2016, the number of Catholic acute care hospitals grew by 22 percent, while the overall number of acute care hospitals dipped by about 6 percent.
One in every six acute care hospital beds is in a facility that's Catholic owned or operated, the data showed.
In addition, there are five states -- Alaska, Iowa, Washington, Wisconsin and South Dakota -- in which more than 40 percent of acute care beds are in facilities operating under Catholic health restrictions. In another five states, those numbers range between 30 and 39 percent; those states are Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Oregon and Kentucky.
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In some areas of the country, Catholic hospitals are the only game in town. MergerWatch identified 46 institutions that are the "sole community providers" of short term acute care for people in the region, which the group defines as being located at least 35 miles away from other like hospitals, or located in a highly rural area. CMS typically reimburses such facilities at a higher level.
Four of the 10 largest health systems in the country are Catholic, MergerWatch found. And even hospitals that were purchased by secular, for-profit systems often still maintain their Catholic identities and ethical practices. Mercy Hospital in Miami, Florida, for instance, was purchased by Hospital Corp. of America in 2011 but continues to operate in accordance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
Twitter: @JELagasse
