A major uncertainty confronting hospitals currently is the types of changes, if any, that will result from current health insurance reform efforts. If there is a regulatory mandate requiring individuals to obtain health insurance, it will not immediately solve the issue of the uninsured and hospital uncompensated care. In addition, it will possibly create more competition for scarce resources. Organizations receiving state and federal subsidies for
indigent care provision may no longer receive this
assistance, and managers will need to plan in advance for this change. With any potential change, managers will be challenged to garner and allocate resources to provide needed services for those who may still be unable to afford them.