ATLANTA, Ga, March 20, 2005 - Healthcare providers, attorneys and opinion leaders identified increasing pressures on hospitals from uncompensated care and high costs as the leading issue of concern within the healthcare sector, according to a survey conducted on Friday, March 18, 2005 at the 12th annual Health Law and Policy Forum sponsored by King & Spalding, LLP.

Nearly sixty percent of survey respondents cited the burden of increased hospital costs as the number one healthcare issue in 2005. Rising Medicare/Medicaid costs ranked a close second, with 57% of respondents identifying these programs as a leading issue.

More than 100 attendees at the King & Spalding forum, held in Atlanta, Georgia, heard the latest updates on a range of healthcare topics, including the issue of increasing class action litigation against non-profit hospitals.

"Hospitals and health care systems are feeling the squeeze with ever-increasing pressure from underfunding of government programs, high costs of technology, regulatory restrictions and uncompensated care," said Glen Reed, Chair of King & Spalding's Healthcare Practice Group. "Compliance and cost issues continue to threaten the integrity of our nation's healthcare system."

The forum survey also revealed healthcare leaders' opinions regarding other healthcare trends. A third of respondents predict an improvement in Americans' health insurance coverage, while a quarter foresees progress on wellness- related issues such as obesity and exercise.

About King & Spalding LLP
King & Spalding LLP is an international law firm with more than 800 lawyers in Atlanta, Houston, London, New York and Washington, D.C. The firm represents more than half of the Fortune 100, and in a Corporate Counsel survey in October 2004 was ranked one of the top ten firms representing Fortune 250 companies overall. For additional information, visit http://www.kslaw.com/.