How are Nebraska hospitals doing financially?

56 of 87 Nebraska hospitals (64%) reported a loss on patient care in their latest full-year Medicare cost report, compared with 55% nationwide. The median operating margin was -4.7%, lower than the U.S. median of -1.6%. The operating margin leaves out donations, investment income and grants, so some of these hospitals still end the year in the black.

Nebraska hospitals reported $164.5 million in charity care (the cost of free or discounted care for patients who qualify) in their latest full-year reports. The largest amounts came from The Nebraska Medical Center ($48.7 million), Bryan Medical Center ($21.8 million), Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Medical Center ($20.9 million), The Nebraska Methodist Hospital ($12.1 million), Alegent Health Immanuel Medical Center ($7.0 million).

Nebraska ranks 35 of 50 states by the median operating margin of its hospitals (1 = highest). A larger share of its hospitals lost money on patient care than the U.S. as a whole (64% vs 55%).

The Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha reported the most net patient revenue: $1.8 billion in its latest full-year cost report, with 643 beds and an operating margin of -47.4%.

It is how much a hospital keeps from patient care after paying its operating costs, as a share of its patient revenue. A margin of 5% means the hospital kept 5 cents of every dollar it earned from patients; a negative margin means patient care cost more than it brought in. It excludes donations, investment income and grants.