Connecticut hospitals cite $718M in community benefit spending

Connecticut hospitals spent $718 million--or 9.4 percent of total hospital revenue--on community benefit programs in 2007, according to a new report from the Connecticut Hospital Association. The report, which is particularly relevant in a year when federal legislators are hot to impose rules on community benefit claims, concludes that the state's 28 non-profit acute-care hospitals provided more than 9.7 million community benefit services that year.

According to the CHA, the $718 million included $434.3 million to cover the unpaid costs of accepting government sponsored health benefits; $228.8 million on uncompensated care, including charity care and bad debt; and subsidized health services for needy residents.

The report also cited health improvement services ($15.3 million), community building projects ($4 million), community healthcare research ($3.2 million) and donations to community groups ($3.4 million).

To learn more about this issue:
- read the CHA report (.pdf)

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