National
Healthcare Executives Well-Rewarded for Their Work
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Jul 28, 2008 - 6:06:39 PM

Modern Healthcare's annual compensation issue reports healthy pay raises for top healthcare executives

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - CHICAGO, -- The healthcare industry's "recession proof" reputation remains intact as its top executives continue to be well-paid for their services, according to Modern Healthcare's annual compensation issue published today.

"One sign that any industry is in trouble is a deterioration in the compensation levels of its executives," said David Burda, editor of Modern Healthcare. "That's just not the case in healthcare, which continues to be the envy of most other sectors of the economy."

The magazine's annual compensation issue includes two major reports on healthcare executive pay. The first report ranks the 30 highest-paid executives at for-profit companies in three healthcare sectors: acute-care hospitals, health insurance companies and specialty-care providers.

The highest-paid executive was Ronald Williams, chairman and chief executive officer of Aetna, who earned nearly $43 million in total compensation in 2007. Total compensation includes salary and exercised stock options.

The second report in Modern Healthcare's annual compensation issue is the magazine's annual executive compensation survey, which documents executive pay changes at hospitals and healthcare systems. Healthcare system president and CEOs enjoyed a 9.7% increase in median total cash compensation this year to $867,000. Meanwhile, presidents and CEOs at free-standing hospitals enjoyed a 10.6% increase in median total cash compensation this year to $497,000.

Sullivan, Cotter and Associates, a benefits consulting firm, provided the data for the second Modern Healthcare report. B.E. Smith, an executive search firm, sponsored the Modern Healthcare survey but was not involved in the administration of the survey or interpretation of the survey results.

The complete results of both reports can be found in the July 28 issue of Modern Healthcare and on Modern Healthcare Online at modernhealthcare.com.

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