Meth Burns Sinking Hospitals

Uncompensated care is a major problem for hospitals. Burn units are closing due to an overwhelming number of burn injuries caused by "cooking" methamphetamine.

An Associated Press survey of key hospitals in the nation's most active meth states showed that up to a third of patients in some burn units were hurt while making meth, and most were uninsured. The average treatment costs $6,000 per day. And the average meth patient's hospital stay costs $130,000 — 60 percent more than other burn patients, according to a study by doctors at a burn center in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Uncompensated care leads to higher health care costs which creates higher health insurance premiums.