Community Benefit Summary

Caring For Our Community

The health and wellness of our community members is important to Columbus Community Hospital, regardless of community members’ ability to pay.

As a not-for-profit hospital, we have established financial aid policies to assist patients who cannot afford care. Although Medicare and Medicaid programs do not pay enough to cover the cost incurred by these patients, we provide the same quality of care to all patients. The data reported here not only includes uncompensated health care costs provided to the underinsured or uninsured, but also community health initiatives, education for health care professionals and the donation of services and funds to help further our mission and goals.

We are pleased to share with you our accomplishments and community contributions which were published in our 2017-2018 Annual Report.

Traditional Charity Care ... $552,286
Health care services provided free of charge, or at a discounted fee schedule, to people who meet predetermined financial criteria. As required for government reporting, this figure is based on calculated costs, not charges to patients.

Community Health Education and Outreach ... $216,718

Includes activities carried out to improve community health and health care services that are subsidized because they meet an identified need in the community.

First Steps prenatal program, baby care and breast-feeding classes
Meals on Wheels – more than 11,000 people served
Tune-Up for Life Health Fair
Local business workshops hosted by Occupational Health Services
Diabetes education and healthy lifestyle programs taught by registered dietitians
Volunteer Services
Healthy Families Network – which offers educational support and resources to more than 340 families
Free interpreter services

Unpaid Costs of Public Programs ... $6,866,625
Medicare and Medicaid shortfalls are deficits created when Columbus Community Hospital receives payments from the government that are less than the cost of care for public programs.

Health Professional Medical Education ... $599,586
Scholarships and funding for health professionals’ education.

TOTAL AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT ... $8,235,215