How are Wisconsin hospitals doing financially?

51 of 133 Wisconsin hospitals (38%) reported a loss on patient care in their latest full-year Medicare cost report, compared with 55% nationwide. The median operating margin was 3.2%, higher 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.

Wisconsin hospitals reported $322.5 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 University of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority ($40.8 million), Aurora St Lukes Medical Center ($32.3 million), Froedtert Mem Lutheran Hsptl ($26.3 million), Gundersen Luth Med Ctr ($18.9 million), Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare- All Saints ($12.2 million).

Wisconsin ranks 12 of 50 states by the median operating margin of its hospitals (1 = highest). A smaller share of its hospitals lost money on patient care than the U.S. as a whole (38% vs 55%).

University of Wi Hospitals & Clinics Authority in Madison reported the most net patient revenue: $3.4 billion in its latest full-year cost report, with 681 beds and an operating margin of -1.7%.

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.