How are Oregon hospitals doing financially?

39 of 56 Oregon hospitals (70%) reported a loss on patient care in their latest full-year Medicare cost report, compared with 55% nationwide. The median operating margin was -6.4%, 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.

Oregon hospitals reported $444.6 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 OHSU Hospital and Clinics ($62.9 million), Sacred Heart Medical Center - Riverbend ($32.6 million), Legacy Emanuel Medical Center ($29.6 million), Providence St Vincent Medical Center ($27.4 million), Salem Hospital ($25.1 million).

Oregon ranks 39 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 (70% vs 55%).

OHSU Hospital and Clinics in Portland reported the most net patient revenue: $3.2 billion in its latest full-year cost report, with 562 beds and an operating margin of -17.7%.

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.