non profit hospitals...don’t they get tax breaks?
I don't remember the exact reason, but it was said at the time that is would drive churches out of the health care business. Lo and behold, where the predominance of hospitals were once owned by churches, now there are few (at least in midwest, west.. YMMV).
I believe it has to do with being able to shift money from the church to the hospital or back again, as it was functioning as a way for churches to roll up profit and pigeonhole it away.
For whatever advantage it gave them, it is certainly offset by the result in the health industry.