LANSING, Mich., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan’s nonprofit community hospitals provided nearly $1.1 billion in uncompensated care and more than $313 million in free or reduced-fee community-based programs in fiscal year 2003, according to a report released today by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA).
In total, Michigan hospitals provided more than $1.4 billion in community benefits programming, the new report shows.
The MHA 2005 Hospital Community Benefits Report is based on data from 116 of Michigan’s nonprofit community hospitals. Eighty-one percent of the state’s 144 nonprofit community hospitals voluntarily submitted data for the report, which quantifies two types of hospital community benefits: traditional and nontraditional. Traditional community benefits -- also called uncompensated care -- are acute health care services provided to patients who are unable to pay. Nontraditional community benefits are programs and services offered by Michigan’s nonprofit hospitals beyond their walls that improve the overall health and quality of life for individuals and the community as a whole.
“The MHA 2005 Hospital Community Benefits Report demonstrates how Michigan’s nonprofit hospitals are going above and beyond the delivery of essential health care services to ensure healthier children, safer environments, earlier detection of disease, and enhanced access to basic health care services,” said MHA President Spencer Johnson.
MHA has published the report annually since 1997 to illustrate nonprofit hospitals’ efforts to benefit the communities they serve beyond the delivery of essential health care services. In addition to statewide aggregate community benefits data, the report includes examples of actual community programs being conducted by hospitals.
New to this year’s report is a section highlighting how Michigan’s hospitals are going beyond their missions as critical care providers to work in step with Gov. Granholm and Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom’s goals of proactively preserving, protecting and promoting healthier lifestyles for citizens.
In 2003, Michigan’s nonprofit hospitals helped nearly 22,000 people reduce or eliminate tobacco use, aided nearly 85,000 residents through free weight- management and physical-activity programs, and provided nearly 256,000 disease prevention and education programs.
Quick Facts from the MHA 2005 Hospital Community Benefits Report:
* Michigan’s nonprofit hospitals offer free clinics in nearly every community in the state. Hospitals included in the report recorded more than 472,000 visitors to their free hospital- and community-based clinics. Care provided at these free clinics totaled more than $43 million.
* Virtually every Michigan hospital works hard to prevent diseases by offering a variety of free health screening programs, many where residents work, play and go to school. In 2003, Michigan hospitals provided a total of more than 6,000 health screening opportunities in the communities they serve, providing free screenings to about 300,000 residents.
* About 2.3 million Michigan residents participated in more than 24,000 community-based education and outreach programs offered by Michigan hospitals. These programs, valued at more than $19 million, are aimed at improving the health status of residents.
* Hospitals provided free or discounted prescription drugs to more than 114,000 residents.
* More than 405,000 Michigan residents received in-home meals, respite care and similar services from Michigan hospitals.
* Michigan hospitals provided nearly $20 million in cash and in-kind donations to community groups and programs.
For a copy of the 2005 report, please visit http://www.mha.org/ and click on “Reports” or contact Marlene Hulteen or Kevin Downey at (517) 323-3443. The MHA is a state association, based in Lansing, that represents and supports Michigan hospitals, health systems and health care providers through education, advocacy and communication.
Michigan Health & Hospital Association
CONTACT: Marlene Hulteen or Sherry Mirasola of Michigan Health &Hospital Association, +1-517-323-3443
Web site: http://www.mha.org/