A Texas health leader estimates hospitals could be responsible for more than $1 billion in additional uncompensated care if federal lawmakers don’t extend a subsidy that makes health insurance on the federal marketplace more affordable.

Hospitals across the state already provide billions of dollars in uncompensated care – that consists of bad medical debt , or care that someone chooses not to pay for, and charity or indigent care provided to people who have financial challenges and can’t pay. Nonprofit hospitals are legally required to provide charity care .

“Hospitals give care back to the community,” said Stephen Love, president and CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council. “In many cases, especially if it's an emergency, they're going to do the right thing and treat the p

See Full Page