Correct! Hospitals regularly manage vast stock and bond portfolios. The value of their investments alone can reach into the billions.

Correct!

Correct! Government-owned or public hospitals account for roughly 15 percent of hospitals in the U.S. Major cities tend to have at least one public hospital, which cares for those facing extreme poverty.

Correct! The AHCJ has strict rules on not taking money from the industries that health reporters cover. The group’s listserv can pick the brains of over 1,500 journalists on deadline. AHCJ also offers tip sheets and conference sessions on hospital finances that can deepen your reporting. It’s the quickest, most cost-effective support out there!

Correct!

Correct! Tell the story behind the numbers to explain to your audience the real-life impact. Hospital stories should always center around the people in the community.

Correct! The term “nonprofit” doesn’t mean there are no profits. Many nonprofit hospitals make big bucks.

Correct! Nonprofit hospitals are run by self-perpetuating boards, whose members are not required to have financial or healthcare experience. They often are the richest people in the community and are put there for their contributions.

Correct! Identifying the kind of hospital you are covering is a critical first step because it will dictate which documents you can get.

Correct! Hospitals are often the target of government fraud investigations and accused of overbilling. For-profit organizations in particular have been accused of overbilling in the past.