Ohio Democratic Party

10/04/2024 | Press release | Archived content

NEW: Bernie Moreno Approved Plans That “Raised [Health Care] Prices For Patients” While “Reward[ing]” Executives

NEW: Bernie Moreno Approved Plans That "Raised [Health Care] Prices For Patients" While "Reward[ing]" Executives

October 4, 2024

American Journal: Bernie Moreno Backed Plan To Raise Health Care Costs, Reward Hospital Executives

Columbus, OH - New reporting from the American Journal found that while serving on the board of MetroHealth, Bernie Moreno approved budget plans that "gave bonuses to executives" at the same time the hospital was "increas[ing] prices on most of its services" at taxpayers' expense - the latest example that Ohioans "can't trust Moreno to lower the cost" of health care.

American Journal: Bernie Moreno backed plan to raise health care costs, reward hospital executives
Jesse Valentine
October 1, 2024

  • Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno served on the board of a hospital corporation that gave bonuses to executives and raised prices for patients.
  • From 2019 to 2021, Moreno was on the board of MetroHealth, a hospital system with locations in and near Cleveland. Moreno was appointed to the board at the request of MetroHealth CEO Akram Bustros.
  • In 2019, Moreno and the MetroHealth board approved two new budgets that implemented a based variable compensation plan. These plans tie employee pay, particularly for senior leadership, to profitability. In other words, MetroHealth executives got bigger paychecks if the corporation earned more money.
  • According to public disclosures, MetroHealth increased prices on most of its services following the adoption of the based variable plan. Child delivery, both natural and by C-section, spiked by nearly 5%. Fetal non stress tests, which are intended to check the health of a developing fetus, went up 110%. Emergency care for patients with life-threatening injuries rose by nearly 85%.
  • MetroHealth reports that 90% of its patients are covered by public health insurance, meaning that government programs funded by taxpayers covered the bulk of the price increases. When Moreno was on the board, MetroHealth took in $152 million in Ohio taxpayer funds and $1.6 million in federal funds.
  • A Moreno spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.

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