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Local Hospital Deals With Challenges

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-827248.mp3

Kansas City, MO – Hospitals and clinics that treat the uninsured are busy places. But Truman Medical Center - the area's private non-profit hospital - is one such facility that's finding itself in an increasingly strained position. John Bluford is the president there, and says about a third of Truman's budget last fiscal year went toward treating patients who couldn't pay.

BLUFORD: That's too much.

Bluford says the situation is getting worse, as more and more people who are unable to pay, are turning to Truman for care. It means the hospital is now having to take extra steps to keep itself afloat. KCUR's Elana Gordon has more.

Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

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