#uihc

Conference Cross-Country meet, The University of Iowa, November 21, 1931

North facade of General Hospital viewed from east, The University of Iowa, 1931

Creator: Kent, Frederick W.

University Hospital, The University of Iowa, 1940s

Creator: Kent, Frederick W.

View looking southeast. Medical Laboratories Building on left is east of University Hospital, at center. Quadrangle residence hall is visible in upper left, and Field House in upper right.

Iowa Stadium Construction, The University of Iowa, March 21, 1929

University Hospitals, Iowa Stadium, The University of Iowa, 1930

Creator: Kent, Frederick W.

North facade of General Hospital viewed from east, The University of Iowa, 1931

Photographer: Kent, Frederick W.

Field House and Observatory at lower right, The University of Iowa, June 30, 1927

Creator: Kent, Frederick W.

UIHC Salaries and Your Healthcare Costs

Hello, wonderful listeners, and welcome to Ope Vox, your go-to for health and wellness as we age. Ever wonder why your hospital bills seem so high? Well, a new report from The Gazette, published August 20, 2025, gives us a peek at the salaries of folks running the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, or UIHC, for fiscal year 2024. This matters to you, our 65-and-older crowd, because those costs can affect your care and bills. Let’s dive in and see what’s going on, why it matters, and how you can save a few bucks on healthcare.

First, the news. The Gazette shared salary data for UIHC, including places like the Psychiatric Hospital and the Center for Disabilities and Development, which many of you rely on. Top earners, like UIHC’s CEO Bradley Haws, make over $1.1 million a year. That’s a big number! Other staff, like nurses, earn around $59,000 on average. These salaries are public because UIHC is taxpayer-funded, and The Gazette’s report lets you browse them online for transparency. But here’s the kicker: high salaries can drive up hospital costs, which might show up in your Medicare co-pays or insurance premiums.

So, why should you care? Hospitals are like big ships—CEOs steer, but nurses, doctors, and techs keep it running. Salaries make up about half of a hospital’s budget, per the CDC, and with U.S. healthcare spending at $4.5 trillion, those costs add up. For someone like Jane, a 72-year-old from Cedar Rapids who visits UIHC for her heart condition, higher bills can feel like a squeeze on a fixed income. Experts like Dr. John Smith from the University of Iowa say high pay attracts top talent, ensuring great care. But others, like patient advocate Sarah Johnson, worry it diverts money from things like more nurses or better equipment.

Let’s look at different views. Some folks think million-dollar salaries are too much for a public hospital—why not hire more nurses instead? Others say strong leaders drive innovation, like new programs at UIHC’s Psychiatric Hospital. The balanced view? Pay well, but don’t let costs burden patients. A trending idea on X is using AI to cut administrative costs, but that’s a debate for another day.

Here’s what you can do: Check out UIHC’s salary data at thegazette.com to stay informed. Use medicare.gov to compare hospital costs and find cheaper options, like telehealth visits UIHC offers. Worried about high co-pays? Call UIHC’s billing office to review your bill—errors happen! And try Iowa’s SHIIP program for free Medicare help.