Community Catalyst

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Community Catalyst

• Findings From A Nationwide Survey of 800 Likely
  Voters

2
Methodology

• Lake Research Partners designed and administered
  this survey that was conducted by telephone using
  professional interviewers between November 12-17,
  2008.
• The survey reached a total of 800 likely voters
  nationwide.
• Telephone numbers for the sample were generated
  by random digit dialing (RDD). The margin of
  error for this survey is /- 3.5.

3
Strategic Summary

• Voters strongly support all three hospital reform
  proposals tested.
• Voters agree with the principle that non-profit
  hospitals have an obligation to serve their
  community, and are sympathetic towards patients,
  though they believe they should have to pay
  something.
• The most intense supporters of these proposals
  are Democrats, younger voters, African Americans,
  Latinos and the uninsured.

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The strongest resonating principle overall is
that non-profit hospitals have an obligation to
serve their community. Voters also strongly
believe in having accessible care in a community
even for those who cant afford it, and in the
idea that non-profit hospitals have an obligation
to treat patients who need it regardless of their
ability to pay upfront.Voters also strongly
believe non-profit hospitals have an obligation
to provide charity care.
Now I am going to read you some statements people
make about hospitals. For each one, please tell
me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree,
somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the
statement.
Asked of half of sample.
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Voters strongly favor the proposal to regulate
non-profit hospitals, requiring them to provide
charity (or free) care and imposing penalties
when they fall short.
Non-profit hospitals should adopt and actively
implement charity/free care policies that, at a
minimum, provide financial assistance for
uninsured and underinsured working people with
very low incomes for low cost care and
catastrophic medical bills. Policymakers should
assess how much charity/free care non-profit
hospitals provide and impose penalties when
hospitals fall short of these obligations. Do
you support or oppose this proposal?
Combined Free Care/Charity Care Initial
Ballot
Data is combined results of split sampled
question, one of which tested the same question
using charity care, with the other testing the
difference using the term free care. There was
no significant difference in support. Charity
care is supported by 73, opposed by 19. Free
care is supported by 75, opposed by 16..
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Support for price regulation is nearly unanimous.
The prices that hospitals charge their patients,
especially their uninsured patients, should be
regulated so that they dont add a huge markup to
the cost of their services. States should
prohibit hospitals from charging uninsured
patients more than the cost of providing
services. Do you support or oppose this
proposal?
Price Regulation Initial Ballot
Note Only two groups under 80 percent support
Older Independents (77) and South Independents
(78)
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Requiring non-profit hospitals to provide more
information to the public on their programs also
garners near unanimous support.
Non-profit hospitals should be required to
provide information to the public on the free and
low cost programs and services they provide to
the community. Do you support or oppose this
proposal?
Program Information Initial Ballot
Note Weak Republicans have the lowest level of
support among all demographic groups, but are
still 84 percent in favor
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Community Catalyst

• Findings From A Nationwide Survey of 800 Likely
  Voters