U.S. Hospitals Struggle to Absorb Pandemic-Era Rising Costs

U.S. hospitals are struggling to absorb rising costs for labor, drugs and supplies as the pandemic drags on, the American Hospital Association said Monday in a report.

Labor costs per patient jumped by 19% in 2021 from 2019, and supplies rose by over 20% per patient during that period, according to the report. Nursing expenses shifted heavily toward travel nurses. The travelers’ share of nursing budgets rose to 39% in 2022 from 5% in 2019.

The federal government has allotted more than $170 billion to help hospitals through the pandemic, but many say they are still losing money, especially after ...