Industry observers are watching a dispute between the Cleveland Clinic and Ohio over the tax-exempt status of one of the clinic's facilities in suburban Beechwood. Tax Commissioner William Wilkins ruled that the facility, which houses doctors' offices, "provides minimal, if any, charitable care" and ordered it stripped of its non-profit status. Local critics have estimated that Cleveland could gain as much as $17 million a year in revenue if officials taxed all of the properties owned by the Cleveland Clinic. The campaign is being led by supporters of the local school district who say the revenue could go to fund education. The issue of the non-profit status of hospitals remains a controversial one on the national stage. Advocacy groups argue that many are failing to provide even basic levels of charitable care.
- read this article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer