Research Project Outline 2
Thesis Statement
This research project aims to identify the root causes of uncompensated care in healthcare,
examine the economic implications of uncompensated care on healthcare organizations, and
explore the ethical and social dimensions of uncompensated care (Clemens & Ippolito, 2019).
I. Introduction 2-3 paragraphs
A. Background and context.
1. Uncompensated care is a critical issue in healthcare (Norris et al., 2023).
2. It is vital to understand its root causes, economic implications, and ethical dimensions
(Garthwaite et al., 2018).
II. Identifying the root causes of uncompensated care. 4-5 paragraphs
A. Lack of health insurance coverage (Lindrooth et al., 2018).
1. Examination of current statistics and trends.
2. Analysis of the impact on the prevalence of uncompensated care (Costa & Harrison,
2019).
B. Socioeconomic factors.
1. Exploration of poverty's role in limiting access to healthcare (Ku, 2022).
2. Investigating demographic disparities in uncompensated care (Segal et al., 2022).
C. Legal and policy issues.
1. Review relevant healthcare legislation (Kwon & Kim, 2020).
2. Assessment of reimbursement policies and their impact on uncompensated care
(McKenna et al., 2018).
III. Economic for healthcare organizations. 4-5 paragraphs
A. The financial strain on hospitals (Blavin & Ramos, 2021).
1. Quantification of the cost of uncompensated care (Verner et al., 2021).
2. Examination of its direct impact on operational budgets.
B. Effects on quality of care.
1. Analysis of resource allocation challenges (Camilleri & Diebold, 2019).
2. Evaluation of staffing and service limitations due to economic constraints.
C. Long-term sustainability.
1. Examination of the potential closure of hospitals (Chatterjee et al., 2022).
2. Assessment of implications for community health and well-being.
IV. Ethical dimensions of uncompensated care. 3-4 paragraphs
A. The moral imperative of providing care (McKenna et al., 2018).
1. Exploration of ethical obligations in healthcare delivery.
2. Analysis of the role of healthcare professionals in uncompensated care scenarios.
B. Equity and access.
1. Evaluation of ethical implications arising from healthcare disparities (Nikpay, 2022).
2. Discussion on striving for healthcare justice and ethical healthcare practices.
Research Project Outline 3
C. Balancing financial viability and ethical responsibilities (Fingar et al., 2018).
1. Examination of ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare organizations.
2. Discussion on ethical decision-making in resource allocation and financial
considerations.
V. Social implications and community impact.4-5 paragraphs
A. .Effects on vulnerable populations (Marrotte et al.,2023).
1. Exploration of the disproportionate impact on specific demographics.
2. Analysis of the cycle of health inequity perpetuated by uncompensated care (Lee &
Choi, 2019).
B. Community outreach and education.
1. Discuss addressing socio-economic determinants to mitigate uncompensated care
(Goodpasture & Rogers, 2021).
2. Explore prevention strategies and community engagement initiatives (Moghtaderi et
al., 2020).
VI. Conclusion 2-3 paragraphs
A. Summary of findings.
1. Recapitulation of critical insights regarding root causes, economic implications, and
ethical dimensions
B. Implications for future research
1. Suggestions for further research avenues (Callison et al., 2021).
C. Call to action.
1. Encouragement for a balanced approach addressing economic realities and ethical
responsibilities in healthcare.
References
Research Project Outline 4
Blavin, F., & Ramos, C. (2021). Medicaid expansion: Effects on hospital finances and
implications for hospitals facing COVID-19 challenges: Study examines Medicaid
expansion effects on hospital finances and implications for hospitals facing COVID-19
challenges. Health Affairs, 40(1), 82-90. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00502
Callison, K., Walker, B., Stoecker, C., Self, J., & Diana, M. L. (2021). Medicaid expansion
reduced uncompensated care costs at Louisiana hospitals; May be a model for other
states: Study examines Medicaid expansion and uncompensated care costs at Louisiana
hospitals. Health Affairs, 40(3), 529-535. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01677
Camilleri, S., & Diebold, J. (2019). Hospital uncompensated care and patient experience: An
instrumental variable approach. Health Services Research, 54(3), 603-612.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13111
Chatterjee, P., Sinha, S., Reszczynski, O., Amin, A., & Schpero, W. L. (2022). Variation and
changes in the targeting of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments: Study
examines variation and changes in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments
using alternative targeting formulas. Health Affairs, 41(12), 1781-1789.
https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00153
Clemens, J., & Ippolito, B. (2019). Uncompensated care and the collapse of hospital payment
regulation: An illustration of the Tinbergen rule. Public Finance Review, 47(6),
1002-1041. https://doi.org/10.1177/1091142119871333
Costa, L. D., & Harrison, T. D. (2019). Hospital competition, spillovers and provision of
uncompensated care. Applied Economics, 51(31), 3401-3412.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2019.1581905
Fingar, K. R., Coffey, R. M., Mulcahy, A. W., Andrews, R. M., & Stocks, C. (2018). Shifts in
Research Project Outline 5
Medicaid and uninsured payer mix at safety-net and non-safety-net hospitals during the
great recession. Journal of Healthcare Management, 63(3), 156-172.
https://doi.org/10.1097/JHM-D-16-00024
Garthwaite, C., Gross, T., & Notowidigdo, M. J. (2018). Hospitals as insurers of last resort.
Applied Economics, 10(1), 1-39. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.20150581
Goodpasture, J. E., & Rogers, N. (2021). Standardizing community benefit between
not-for-profit and investor-owned hospitals. International Journal of Healthcare
Management, 14(2), 583-587. https://doi.org/10.1080/20479700.2019.1679517
Ku, L. (2022). Who pays for immigrants’ health care in the US? JAMA Network Open, 5(11),
E2241171-e2241171. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.41171
Kwon, I. W. G., & Kim, S. H. (2020). Has the ACA impacted charity care and bad debt?
Journal of Hospital and Healthcare Administration, 5, 143.
https://doi.org/10.29011/2688-6472.000143
Lee, J., & Choi, J. Y. (2019). Increased health information technology investment decreases
uncompensated care cost: a study of Texas hospitals. Technology and Health Care, 27(1),
13-21. https://doi.org/10.3233/THC-181399
Lindrooth, R. C., Perraillon, M. C., Hardy, R. Y., & Tung, G. J. (2018). Understanding the
relationship between Medicaid expansions and hospital closures. Health Affairs, 37(1),
111-120. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0976
Marrotte, A., Calvo, R. Y., Capacio, B., Goljan, C., Rooney, A. S., Carroll, A. N., ... & Martin,
Research Project Outline 6
M. J. (2023). Financial vulnerability of trauma centers: a national analysis. Journal of
Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 94(5), 637-642.
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000003899
McKenna, R. M., Purtle, J., Nelson, K. L., Roby, D. H., Regenstein, M., & Ortega, A. N. (2018).
Examining EMTALA in the era of the patient protection and Affordable Care Act. AIMS
Public Health, 5(4), 366.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3934%2Fpublichealth.2018.4.366
Moghtaderi, A., Pines, J., Zocchi, M., & Black, B. (2020). The effect of Affordable Care Act
Medicaid expansion on hospital revenue. Health Economics, 29(12), 1682-1704.
https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4157
Nikpay, S. (2022). The Medicaid windfall: Medicaid expansions and the target efficiency of
hospital safety-net subsidies. Journal of Public Economics, p. 208, 104583.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2021.104583
Norris, K., Hernandez, S. R., Landry, A. Y., Carroll, N., & Opoku-Agyeman, W. (2023). The
effect of federally qualified health centers prevalence on uncompensated care in US
hospitals. Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2023, No. 1, p. 18778).
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510: Academy of Management.
https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2023.18778
Segal, J. B., Sen, A. P., Glanzberg-Krainin, E., & Hutfless, S. (2022, January). Factors associated
with overuse of health care within US health systems: A cross-sectional analysis of
medicare beneficiaries from 2016 to 2018. JAMA Health Forum (Vol. 3, No. 1, pp.
e214543-e214543). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.4543
Verner, H. M. G., Figueroa, B. A., Crespo, M. S., Lorenzo, M., & Amos, J. D. (2021). Trauma
