After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, 14 states have imposed near-total abortion bans. (Arizona may soon join them.) While all of these states include exemptions to save the life of the mother, the language is inherently vague. The abortion bans typically allow for emergency abortions to prevent "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" or "serious, permanent impairment of a life-sustaining organ." But the laws do not address "expectations regarding the most common obstetric complications that can lead to late-stage pregnancy loss, such as previable premature rupture of membranes, excessive bleeding, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, or placental abruption."
Thank you for a detailed important article, Rebecca and Judd! The title, THE LARGEST FOR-PROFIT HOSPITAL CHAIN IS PUTTING PREGNANT WOMEN AT RISK, reveals several major issues: profit eliminating concern for right and wrong, and the lack of caring for the lives of pregnant women. The lives of women in all areas of life is the bottom line issue throughout all talk and every position about abortion. Regard and respect for women is missing when those who have no knowledge or wisdom about pregnancy and childbirth use undeserved power to control women's lives and fate. These false controllers include Alito of the Supreme Court and his prelates from centuries ago; the Catholic Church; and far too many mostly male politicians.
Check this map for where Catholic Hospitals are - often in states that ban abortions. Should taxes women pay be used to support these Catholic Hospitals that deny them care?
Why the hell is a hospital taking advice from a church? Here's an idea, get all these draconian religious freakshows out of government. Your religion has NO PLACE in legitimate fact based healthcare. Get your stupid religion out of healthcare and government.
Women and their allies must must must vote this issue. And to vote for those who believe that a woman's body, in any condition save coma, is her responsibility and always within her right to make decisions regarding it. We are slipping as a country and it is not a slow roll, but a wrecking ball with men's hands at the control. I fear for democracy.
Sixty-eight billion dollars profit for health care? My god, y'all.
HCA was started by the Frist family. Former US Senator Bill Frist, was involved in Medicaid/Medicare fraud during his tenure at HCA, but managed to quell the investigation through political connections.
I am a practicing Catholic. I would like to note that the church in my area spends a considerable amount of time advocating against abortion. The church does not, however, spend any time advocating against capital punishment. Given that fact and the church's stance on women as priests, I think it is clear that the church's staunch advocacy against abortion, at least where I live, is about something other than the sanctity of life. I struggle with reconciling my faith with the politics of the church.
We need to separate Church and State, and that includes state supported hospitals that receive Medicare and our tax money in order to operate. Expand Veterans Hospitals into a national care system instead.
And now that the dog caught the car, and women are suffering and dying, which Catholics and Evangelists will finally admit they have no right to impose their religious beliefs on others, and America isn't obliged to pay for their 'values', whether in the medical industry or schools or to prop up their church's real estate investments?
Catholics and Evangelists who do not want to acknowledge this are working to replace American Democracy with an autocratic oligarchy; they do not believe in representative Democracy. Those extremists have to at last confess what this is all really about--nothing to do with religion, no particular concern for women or children, just all about gaining undeserved untrammeled political power, so they can Lord it over others.
Anyone who cares can look up the history of HCA/Columbia; the turn it took under Rick Scott & how he left them holding the bag when the feds caught on. In the health care industry women are low hanging fruit subject to stereotypes, politics, religious influences, cost cutting and threats. No one says “stop providing care for heart attacks or we will …”.
It is not surprising a for-profit would act like this especially given the religious and political climate where it is headquartered. I also remember that some non-profits were found with greater excess revenue than for profits several yrs ago. For profit or otherwise, all of them rely on hospitals in their networks that have religious ties. They are often the only source of medical care for communities. Many of those institutions have no qualms about using medical care as a vehicle to further their goals related to revenue, religion and politics. I suspect the turning away of pts before intake is to keep pt outcomes from reflecting the bad policies. Afterward it gets trickier.
I should add, for some types of care, HCA has excellent services. Patients with non-controversial but common and profitable conditions like kidney failure. My son who has complex health issues & disabilities from a stroke has an assigned RN who only works with kidney patients. She periodically comes to his home & is available to him by phone. She’s the trainer for using at home dialysis systems like his.
BUT … DIY dialysis is probably less expensive than dialysis centers which are often joint ventures with physicians whether pts know it or not. His nephrologist with his previous insurer in a different “network” would not approve at home treatments; there was no assigned nurse or home visits and he traveled 2 hours round trip 3x a week for 3 hour treatments.
Trying to find more info on "United Church Foundation" - redirects to United Church Fund, which gives me NO info at all on this group. UCFund purports to be part of United Church of Christ; I doubt they are affiliated with HCA; hope someone can clarify.
Above all it's clear that HCA is a BIG funder of political opportunists in backward states that forbid abortion no matter what the cost or consequences to woman. Just another example of big business dictating the outcome for women at risk! They'd rather see women die than make realistic decisions about nonviable pregnancies. This must be stopped!
Idaho has lost all or most of its ob-gyns because they cannot practice proper healthcare; they risk jail and losing licenses. These medieval laws are backfiring on states - November will bring huge backlash for forced birth killing of women!
Thank you for a detailed important article, Rebecca and Judd! The title, THE LARGEST FOR-PROFIT HOSPITAL CHAIN IS PUTTING PREGNANT WOMEN AT RISK, reveals several major issues: profit eliminating concern for right and wrong, and the lack of caring for the lives of pregnant women. The lives of women in all areas of life is the bottom line issue throughout all talk and every position about abortion. Regard and respect for women is missing when those who have no knowledge or wisdom about pregnancy and childbirth use undeserved power to control women's lives and fate. These false controllers include Alito of the Supreme Court and his prelates from centuries ago; the Catholic Church; and far too many mostly male politicians.
Check this map for where Catholic Hospitals are - often in states that ban abortions. Should taxes women pay be used to support these Catholic Hospitals that deny them care?
"Catholic Hospitals Criminalize Women’s Reproductive Healthcare"
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/01/30/catholic-hospitals-criminalize-womens-reproductive-healthcare-billions-medicare-medicaid-reimbursements/
Follow the money behind Churches playing politics with this interactive chart.
"Church plays politics with tax exempt dollars"
https://thedemlabs.org/2022/07/14/church-pushes-abortion-ban-with-your-tax-dollars/
And follow the Christian extremist's scheme to push their religious agenda on America through Project 2025.
"Project 2025: Follow Leonard Leo’s unholy war to overthrow American democracy"
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/02/26/leonard-leo-dark-money-project-2025-christian-dictatorship-gilead/
Actually, for-profit hospitals put everyone’s health at risk, and put pregnant women’s health even more so.
Why the hell is a hospital taking advice from a church? Here's an idea, get all these draconian religious freakshows out of government. Your religion has NO PLACE in legitimate fact based healthcare. Get your stupid religion out of healthcare and government.
Women and their allies must must must vote this issue. And to vote for those who believe that a woman's body, in any condition save coma, is her responsibility and always within her right to make decisions regarding it. We are slipping as a country and it is not a slow roll, but a wrecking ball with men's hands at the control. I fear for democracy.
Sixty-eight billion dollars profit for health care? My god, y'all.
HCA was started by the Frist family. Former US Senator Bill Frist, was involved in Medicaid/Medicare fraud during his tenure at HCA, but managed to quell the investigation through political connections.
See: https://pnhp.org/news/the-bad-doctor-bill-frists-long-record-of-corporate-vices/#:~:text=Frist%20was%20born%20rich%2C%20and,by%20Frist's%20father%20and%20brother.
I am a practicing Catholic. I would like to note that the church in my area spends a considerable amount of time advocating against abortion. The church does not, however, spend any time advocating against capital punishment. Given that fact and the church's stance on women as priests, I think it is clear that the church's staunch advocacy against abortion, at least where I live, is about something other than the sanctity of life. I struggle with reconciling my faith with the politics of the church.
We need to separate Church and State, and that includes state supported hospitals that receive Medicare and our tax money in order to operate. Expand Veterans Hospitals into a national care system instead.
And now that the dog caught the car, and women are suffering and dying, which Catholics and Evangelists will finally admit they have no right to impose their religious beliefs on others, and America isn't obliged to pay for their 'values', whether in the medical industry or schools or to prop up their church's real estate investments?
Catholics and Evangelists who do not want to acknowledge this are working to replace American Democracy with an autocratic oligarchy; they do not believe in representative Democracy. Those extremists have to at last confess what this is all really about--nothing to do with religion, no particular concern for women or children, just all about gaining undeserved untrammeled political power, so they can Lord it over others.
Following the money, can be so enlightening.
So many corrupt officials, business leaders, and companies, ethical reporters are tripping over them hourly. Be careful out there.
Thank you for your work...it is appreciated and actually saving lives.
Voting Republican is a co-morbidity at this point, as are their policies, and not just when it comes to women's health care.
You're a Republican, you have blood on your hands. Same if you vote for any GOP candidates.
Very simple process for me : "If the Catholic Church is FOR it, I’m AGAINST it and if the church is AGAINST it, I’m FOR it".
Anyone who cares can look up the history of HCA/Columbia; the turn it took under Rick Scott & how he left them holding the bag when the feds caught on. In the health care industry women are low hanging fruit subject to stereotypes, politics, religious influences, cost cutting and threats. No one says “stop providing care for heart attacks or we will …”.
It is not surprising a for-profit would act like this especially given the religious and political climate where it is headquartered. I also remember that some non-profits were found with greater excess revenue than for profits several yrs ago. For profit or otherwise, all of them rely on hospitals in their networks that have religious ties. They are often the only source of medical care for communities. Many of those institutions have no qualms about using medical care as a vehicle to further their goals related to revenue, religion and politics. I suspect the turning away of pts before intake is to keep pt outcomes from reflecting the bad policies. Afterward it gets trickier.
I should add, for some types of care, HCA has excellent services. Patients with non-controversial but common and profitable conditions like kidney failure. My son who has complex health issues & disabilities from a stroke has an assigned RN who only works with kidney patients. She periodically comes to his home & is available to him by phone. She’s the trainer for using at home dialysis systems like his.
BUT … DIY dialysis is probably less expensive than dialysis centers which are often joint ventures with physicians whether pts know it or not. His nephrologist with his previous insurer in a different “network” would not approve at home treatments; there was no assigned nurse or home visits and he traveled 2 hours round trip 3x a week for 3 hour treatments.
Terrific reporting!
Trying to find more info on "United Church Foundation" - redirects to United Church Fund, which gives me NO info at all on this group. UCFund purports to be part of United Church of Christ; I doubt they are affiliated with HCA; hope someone can clarify.
Above all it's clear that HCA is a BIG funder of political opportunists in backward states that forbid abortion no matter what the cost or consequences to woman. Just another example of big business dictating the outcome for women at risk! They'd rather see women die than make realistic decisions about nonviable pregnancies. This must be stopped!
Idaho has lost all or most of its ob-gyns because they cannot practice proper healthcare; they risk jail and losing licenses. These medieval laws are backfiring on states - November will bring huge backlash for forced birth killing of women!
Does HCA have anything to do with Bill Frist who used to be Republican majority leader of the Senate?
Trans women? How does a Trans woman get pregnant? She has no ovaries or uterus. I understand not identifying as a woman or a man.