Cleveland's MetroHealth Faces Tough Financial Times

A Growing Financial Crisis

MetroHealth System is in a tight spot. They're looking at a $31 million shortfall for 2026. This isn't new for them. It's the fourth year in a row they're in the red. They're not alone. Many hospitals are struggling with money. But MetroHealth's problems are getting worse.

Budget Approval and Charity Care

They just okayed a $2.2 billion budget for 2026. It's got to get the final thumbs up from Cuyahoga County Council. The big issue? Charity care. That's when hospitals eat the cost of care because patients can't pay. MetroHealth spent $275 million on this in just nine months. That's as much as all of last year! And it's not getting better. In fact, it's getting worse. Self-pay patients are up. That means more people can't afford their bills.

Patient Revenue Drops

Patient revenue is another problem. They're bringing in $55 million less than they thought. Why? Fewer people are using their services. Fewer surgeries, fewer outpatient visits, fewer behavioral health patients. It's all adding up.

A Glimmer of Hope

But it's not all doom and gloom. They did have a good quarter. They made $6.8 million. That's a win. And their budgets have been growing. From $1.6 billion in 2022 to $2 billion in 2025. But expenses are growing too. They're expected to hit $1.6 billion this year. Revenue is up 8.3% from last year. But is it enough?

Efforts to Fix the Problem

MetroHealth has been trying to fix things. They changed their financial aid policy. They closed some centers and laid off staff. But will it be enough? Time will tell.