hospitals that treat a high number of uninsured patients currently receive federal funds through disproportionate share payments. the aca reduces these payments overall by $56 billion starting in 2014 with the idea that more people will have insurance because of the law. however in states not expanding their medicaid programs hospitals may face trouble as the payments decrease and more citizens than expected remain uninsured.
how will the aca impact what is known as "charity care" at hospitals?