Press Release · Health Policy Podcast
Breaking the Hospital Monopoly: Why Competition is Illegal in Healthcare
Published · Featuring Jared Rhoads of Center for Modern Health
Jared Rhoads, Director at Center for Modern Health, discusses healthcare competition and pricing issues on the latest episode of the Health Policy Podcast.
Jared Rhoads, Director at the Center for Modern Health, discusses critical issues in healthcare competition, including Certificate of Need laws, cross-subsidization in healthcare, and hospital pricing on the Health Policy Podcast. The episode sheds light on how these factors impact market dynamics and patient access to care.
WASHINGTON — September 17, 2026 — In a recent episode of the Health Policy Podcast, Jared Rhoads, Director at the Center for Modern Health, explored the complexities of healthcare competition and the implications of Certificate of Need laws. Rhoads highlighted how these regulations can stifle competition and lead to inefficiencies in hospital pricing, ultimately affecting patient care.
Rhoads emphasized the issue of cross-subsidization within hospitals, where profitable departments support those that consistently lose money. "Certain departments end up kind of cross-subsidizing other departments in many hospitals," he said. This practice can create a barrier to reform, as hospitals resist changes that might disrupt their financial balance.
The discussion also addressed Certificate of Need laws, which require healthcare providers to obtain state approval before expanding services or facilities. Rhoads explained, "The certificate of need is this idea that states who were trying to take a handle on overall spending passed these laws saying essentially, if you want to open up a new surgical center, you need to go to the state and ask for special permission." He argued that these laws hinder competition and contribute to higher healthcare costs.
Rhoads further noted the challenges posed by the existing system, stating, "There's an overreliance on third-party payment, which we're sort of shunted into that idea." He called for a reevaluation of these policies to foster a more competitive healthcare environment.
The Center for Modern Health is a health policy think tank focused on market-oriented solutions to healthcare challenges. It conducts research and analysis on various health policy issues, emphasizing the importance of individual rights and market dynamics.
About the Health Policy Podcast
The Health Policy Podcast focuses on the intersection of energy, infrastructure, policy, and economic growth. It features discussions with experts to provide insights into pressing health policy issues and their implications for society.
About Center for Modern Health
The Center for Modern Health is an organization focused on healthcare innovation, patient-centered care, medical policy, and modern approaches to healthcare delivery and wellness initiatives.
About the Guest
Jared Rhoads — Director
Jared Rhoads, MPH, MS. Jared Rhoads is the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Modern Health. His writings on health policy have appeared in a wide range of publications. He received his MPH degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and an MS degree from Bentley University. He also teaches health policy in the graduate public health program at Dartmouth, and advises graduate students on their independent research projects. Jared has published research with a variety of think tanks, including the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, the Center for Ethics in Society at St. Anselm University, and the Foundation for Government Accountability. Prior to teaching, he worked in healthcare consulting in a role that handled policy and emerging practices. Email: jared.rhoads@centerformodernhealth.org.
About the Health Policy Podcast
The Health Policy Podcast hosts conversations on energy, infrastructure, policy and economic growth — interviewing the operators, regulators, and innovators powering America's grid, gas, nuclear, and industrial future. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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