Asked to my wife, so I'm kind of doing sloppy dictation on the phone...
Its a little bit complicated. She is giving me long perspective first (I hate you Henry!).
Lets say a worth of the services is $100,000. A single day in ICU could be between 100,000 to 250,000.
The government is now contracted to pay a % to be a hospital to not turn away people (medi-Cal/medi-Caid). The hospital could refuse all government coverage but as a Children's hospital that's not a very good look. Families frequently go bankrupt paying what they can before the government steps in. Charities will step in if the family is below-the-poverty-level and they meet other requirements.The hospital works to get charities to get involved.
Right now the Government alone owes their hospital on 22 million dollars worth of services currently outstanding. Which they hope to see 5% of (1 million). WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE 1- wealthy-ish people who cannot afford it, 2- or insurances who fight against paying what they appear to be responsible for, 3- people outside of recognition. Which they hope to see 5% of (1 million). That's on debt for over 120 days old.