CEO compensation: Two heads of hospital nonprofits earned nearly $10M

It’s good to be the head of nonprofit hospitals--at least that’s the case for two CEOs, according to a database of compensation paid to non-profit executives.

Indeed, the CEOs received close to $10 million in recent years, according to a database maintained by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Topping the list of highest-paid execs was Michael Dowling of Northwell Health, formerly North Shore-LIJ Health System, based in Great Neck, New York. The Chronicle notes that in 2014 Dowling earned $9.6 million, which included $6.5 million in other compensation.

George Halvorson, who retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals in 2013, received $9.8 million in compensation in 2012, the report noted.

The data is based on Forms 990 and 990-PF that charities and foundations must file with the Internal Revenue Service.

The latest data comes on the heels of a report from NJ.com that the highest-paid non-profit hospital execs in New Jersey earn well over $1 million a year. The highest paid CEO in the Garden State was Joseph Trunfio of the Atlantic Health System, who earned $4.7 million in salary and bonuses in 2014 before his retirement.

The big pay days have raised concerns among lawmakers, who question the high compensation trends among hospitals that don’t pay taxes. And the Internal Revenue Service can lift a non-profit’s status if it pays excessive compensation to their executives, FierceHealthFinance previously reported.