Lawmaker says 24 island hospitals may file for bankruptcy

By THE STAR STAFF

In an overview of Puerto Rico’s 42 hospitals, Rep. Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló stated this week that some 24 of them could file for bankruptcy, and 17 might close within the next two years.

Rodríguez Aguiló highlighted several factors contributing to the rising costs of the healthcare system, including migration, delayed payments from insurance companies and weekly bonuses for physicians.

“The hospital must provide, in addition to its contract with the insurance company, a weekly bonus to the doctor so they can see the patients they have referred,” Rodríguez Aguiló noted. “These are the factors that increase the hospital’s operational costs because no one reimburses that extra expense for the doctor. No insurance company covers that.”

“It is assumed that if the doctor is contracted by the insurance company, they will see the insurance company’s patients and, if necessary, go to the hospital to attend to those patients,” the legislator added.

Rodríguez Aguiló said he will seek solutions for the aforementioned issues, especially considering that the population aged 65 and older in Puerto Rico is projected to increase by 30%.

“That is why we are currently working in the House of Representatives to develop both short- and long-term plans,” he said.

The lawmaker added that the issues and potential solutions will be discussed in the House of Representatives next week.