In on Sep 2, 2008
Chicago Tribune, 8/29
Urban medical schools feel weight of uninsured
By Corey Williams
An Associated Press story about the challenge faced by urban medical schools in treating an increasing number of uninsured patients focuses on the WSU School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center. Herbert Smitherman, assistant dean for community and urban health at the school, estimates the total cost of uncompensated care provided by WSU physicians at about $50 million per year. This includes free care as well as care and services for which doctors have billed patients and not been paid. Nationally, he estimates that 75 percent of patients treated by doctors at academic health centers are uninsured or underinsured.
