Michigan's largest hospitals refuse to reveal facility fee revenues

Michigan's ten largest hospital networks, including Henry Ford Health, Detroit Medical Center and Corewell Health, refused to disclose the amount of facility fees they collected last year, despite inquiries from one outlet. Facility fees, which hospitals claim are essential for covering overhead like cybersecurity and 24-hour emergency staff, have become contentious as health systems expand into outpatient clinics.

Rep. Curt VanderWall, chair of the Michigan House Committee on Health Policy, is sponsoring a bill to prohibit these fees for routine outpatient and telemedicine visits, though hospitals would still be able to charge for inpatient care. The lack of data hampers lawmakers' ability to assess the impact on patients and the health system. Only Scheurer Health, a small rural provider, disclosed an expected $125,000 in fees for one outlet year, citing equipment such as a telestroke robot. The Michigan Health & Hospital Association says facility fees are vital for survival amid low reimbursements and looming Medicaid cuts, yet no state agency tracks the total revenue from these charges.