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

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Correct! Nonprofit is the traditional financial structure of hospitals as well as the most common, accounting for almost half of all hospitals.

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! 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.

Correct! For-profit hospitals are owned by investors. They are often publicly traded and are in business to reward their investors.

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

Correct! Nonprofit hospitals are supposed to do charitable things for the community in return for their tax-free status. This is a huge issue, as some hospitals do far less for their communities than others.

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! 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.