I hope Saint Agnes has learned a lesson

Regarding the recent order by the attorney general to Saint Agnes Medical Center. It’s a double loss for Saint Agnes.

Fortunately, the state attorney general has decided that more health care for more people is a good thing. In a recent decision reported by The Bee, not only did the state deny a request by Saint Agnes to reduce how much charity care it gives to the community, but the state is also forcing Saint Agnes to pay more than $2 million to nonprofit organizations that provide direct health care services.

Nonprofit hospitals like Saint Agnes reap tremendous benefits from the tax-exempt status they are granted from the IRS in exchange for providing health services to people in need of medical care. Saint Agnes and other hospitals need to do their part and do more for people. I applaud the state attorney general for listening to the community and I hope Saint Agnes has learned a lesson.

This story was originally published September 18, 2016 at 5:16 PM with the headline "I hope Saint Agnes has learned a lesson."