Leadership | 02.19.20
Congress Investigates Private Equity Firm Connection to Surprise Medical Bills
by NAMSS Staff
News 4 San Antonio (02/05/20) Avila, Jaie
When a patient goes to an emergency room these days, there's a good chance the doctor who treats them works for a major investment firm and not the hospital. Capitol Hill lawmakers are investigating whether such connections are the reason for the increase in surprise medical billing. Legislators are specifically looking at private equity firms that have been acquiring physician staffing companies nationwide in recent years. For instance, Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio outsources some of its doctor staffing to outside firms. The bill patients receive can be from Kensington Row Inpatient Services, one of dozens of physician staffing companies owned by Envision Healthcare. Envision, in turn, is owned by KKR, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, one of America's largest private equity firms. Such firms take money from deep-pocketed investors, purchase a company, then make changes to maximize profits so the business can be sold for a higher price later.
Read the full story from News 4 San Antonio.