Hospitals end 1990 with negative net patient margin in aggregate.

The economic outlook for hospitals clouded over considerably in 1990, according to the latest report from the American Hospital Association. By year end, according to the AHA's National Hospital Panel Survey, hospitals ended with a negative net patient revenue margin, influenced strongly by lower admissions and higher inflation. An increase in total expenses may also be related to the expansion of outpatient services and continuing growth in health care employment.