SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins took part in a press conference Tuesday to discuss the findings of a report that shows many of the state’s big hospitals are profiting from Medicare to the tune of millions of dollars.

The report from the State Health Plan and national experts shows that NC hospitals made more than $150 million from Medicare in 2021 alone.

These massive hospital profits and their unwillingness to provide transparency in costs are putting a strain on the State Health Plan, which covers more than 750,000 state employees, retirees, and their family members.

“While hospitals claim they are poor and take in secret profits off taxpayer money, the solvency of the State Health Plan is being put in danger,” said Watkins “Without the price transparency Treasurer Folwell is seeking and hospitals are fighting against, we are likely to see plan costs shifted to the backs of public employees in the next few years."