Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association Where Care Meets Community: Massachusetts Hospitals’ $900 Million Investment
In addition to the lifesaving care they provide, Massachusetts hospitals are devoting more than $900 million to support people’s everyday health in the communities where they live, work, and play.
These investments – known as “community benefit” programs – are seen in public schools and senior centers. They permeate neighborhoods in mobile health vans and farmer’s markets, through job fairs, and in programs that address substance use disorder, violence, and support LGBTQ rights.
Hospitals’ community benefits programs work to address health concerns and disparities identified in collaboration with trusted partners within the community, ranging from faith-based organizations to local businesses. Programs are provided at no cost to the individuals and communities being served and are not reimbursed by government entities or insurance companies.
In the latest year of reporting to the Attorney General – 2022, while the effects of the pandemic were still roiling hospital employment and capacity – Massachusetts hospitals reported $904 million in community benefit expenditures. The IRS allows hospitals to count financial losses related to care provided to Medicaid recipients, along with medical education costs and other metrics. Based on the latest available data, which is from 2021, Massachusetts hospitals reported community benefits at more than $2.3 billion to the IRS.