Four of the largest for-profit U.S. hospital companies told investors last week that fewer patients are scheduling elective surgery, even as emergency rooms and hospital beds stay busy. Executives at HCA Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, Community Health Systems, and Universal Health Services pointed to people losing insurance and to rising deductibles and copays, according to a Becker’s Hospital Review analysis of third-quarter earnings calls held Oct. 27 through Oct. 29.
“I would not say this is a gangbusters surgical environment right now,” Tenet Chairman and CEO Dr. Saum Sutaria said on the company’s Oct. 29 call.
For households, the trend reflects a kitchen-table decision: whether a knee replacement, hernia repair, or other scheduled operation can wait until money or coverage lines up. For some procedures, that is reasonable. For others, waiting can raise both the health risk and the eventual bill.
