Economics :Discussion: Hospital Financials—Market and Demand

This week’s discussion focuses on the financial and economic decisions hospitals face in our current healthcare system. For your initial post, explain how cost-shifting impacts the flow of hospital monies. Describe "cream skimming" and determine if it is an ethical business practice, particularly in healthcare economics. How do Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements apply to these practices? What impact do these reimbursement systems have on a hospital’s budget?