In Washington and Maine insurers are pulling out of the individual insurance market entirely. In Philadelphia, Tenet HealthSystems may soon begin to close some of the eight city hospitals it purchased not that long ago. This is the kind of destabilizing effect that privatization of health care can have. Transactions often move quickly and consumers may not always be able to have an impact on these events. Even when they do, a win does not guarantee enforcement or implementation of what was gained.
Ongoing monitoring is needed.
As one organization pointed out, the community agenda is the first thing to go when these institutions start to struggle. That is why so many organizations are working to institutionalize that agenda in a community benefits framework. While it is certain that there is more to be done on these issues, a great deal has been accomplished so far. Seven of the states represented here prevented conversions that were seen as harmful to the community. Nine have passed legislation governing conversions or establishing community benefits standards.