Lease Versus Purchase
Scenario
Health resources are finite. Therefore, it is incumbent on all health organizations to exercise responsible fiscal decision making when allocating their financial resources.
As the senior cost analyst for a local, nonprofit hospital, you are charged with determining the most appropriate use of financial resources and making recommendations. Your organization is seeking to secure a new CT Scan unit for the expanded emergency department. The hospital has the option of leasing the equipment or purchasing the equipment.
The cost to purchase the CT scan is $1,300,000 at 10% (PV), with straight line depreciation over 5 years. The trade-in value $130,000 at the end of its useful life. The maintenance expense equals $12,000 annually.
The cost to lease the equipment is $26,000 per month for a period of 60 months, which includes all maintenance costs. The tables below provide the financial overview of the purchase and lease costs.
In a written case analysis, use the figures provided in the tables to discuss the following:
Compare and contrast leasing versus purchasing. You may use the Rasmussen library to research articles addressing lease versus purchase decisions in order to support your assertions.
Calculate the figures relative to the principal payment, interest payment, maintenance expense, total expense, and PV expense and complete the tables below.
HSA6900 Mod 2 Deliverable Tables.docx
Provide a detailed explanation of the costs associated with leasing the equipment as depicted in the table.
Provide a detailed explanation of the costs associated with purchasing the equipment as depicted in the table.
Discuss the potential tax implications of leasing the equipment, assuming that the organization is a nonprofit.
Discuss the potential tax implications of purchasing the equipment, assuming that the organization is a nonprofit.
Recommend a course of action and the implications that your recommendation may have for the organization.
Sample Solution
Purchasing vs. Leasing a CT Scanner for a Nonprofit Hospital
Comparison of Leasing and Purchasing
Leasing
- Pros:
- Lower upfront cost
- No risk of obsolescence
- Maintenance costs are typically included in the lease payment
- Cons:
- Higher total cost over the life of the equipment
Full Answer Section
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- No ownership of the equipment at the end of the lease term
- Pros:
- Lower total cost over the life of the equipment
- Ownership of the equipment at the end of the lease term
- Cons:
- Higher upfront cost
- Risk of obsolescence
- Responsible for maintenance costs
Month | Principal Payment | Interest Payment | Maintenance Expense | Total Expense | PV Expense |
1 | $0 | $2,600 | $0 | $2,600 | $2,500 |
2 | $0 | $2,600 | $0 | $2,600 | $2,500 |
3 | $0 | $2,600 | $0 | $2,600 | $2,500 |
... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
59 | $0 | $2,600 | $0 | $2,600 | $2,500 |
60 | $0 | $2,600 | $0 | $2,600 | $2,500 |
Month | Principal Payment | Interest Payment | Maintenance Expense | Total Expense | PV Expense |
1 | $260,000 | $13,000 | $0 | $273,000 | $250,000 |
2 | $260,000 | $10,400 | $12,000 | $282,400 | $250,000 |
3 | $260,000 | $7,800 | $12,000 | $279,800 | $250,000 |
... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
59 | $260,000 | $1,600 | $12,000 | $273,600 | $250,000 |
60 | $260,000 | $0 | $12,000 | $272,000 | $250,000 |
- The lease payment includes the principal payment, interest payment, and maintenance expense.
- The principal payment is the amount of the lease payment that goes towards reducing the outstanding balance of the lease.
- The interest payment is the amount of the lease payment that goes towards paying interest on the outstanding balance of the lease.
- The maintenance expense is the amount of the lease payment that goes towards covering the cost of maintenance for the CT scanner.
- The purchase price of the CT scanner is the upfront cost of purchasing the equipment.
- The interest payment is the amount of interest that the hospital will pay on the loan that it takes out to purchase the CT scanner.
- The maintenance expense is the cost of maintaining the CT scanner over its useful life.
- Lease payments are typically deductible as business expenses.
- If the lease is a capital lease, the hospital may be able to depreciate the CT scanner.
- The purchase price of the CT scanner can be depreciated over its useful life.
- The interest payments on the loan used to purchase the CT scanner are typically deductible as business expenses.