History of hospitals In 1946,the Hill-Burton Act increased the number of hospitals in the US Congress gave monies for building hospitals Any hospital receiving money had to provide free/low cost care to the poor Result:more hospitals and more hospital beds Bhattacharya,Hyde and Tu-HealthEconomics Bhattacharya, Hyde and Tu – Health Economics History of hospitals  In 1946, the Hill-Burton Act increased the number of hospitals in the US  Congress gave monies for building hospitals  Any hospital receiving money had to provide free/low cost care to the poor  Result: more hospitals and more hospital beds