# 12 HILL-BURTON FREE CARE PROVISIONS – A FIRST STEP

SUMMER 1976

As with CCAHS’ first issues of Health Perspectives lists of governing boards of voluntary and owners of proprietary hospital, this issue exploded when it revealed the best kept secret in America: most hospitals had to provide significant amounts of free care to those in need.

Undertaking the task of identifying this federal law enacted in 1946, explaining its provisions and laying out a seven step consumer action program to ensure free care when needed was done in this Quarterly. The repercussions are felt today and still play out in the Affordable Care Act of 2010.