Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: September 1, 2004
Contact: Bruce Cryan (401) 222-5123

Health Department Reports on Hospital Community Benefits

Today, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) released the "Hospital Community Benefits Report (2003)" detailing community benefits provided by hospitals in RI. Based on the findings, Rhode Island's hospitals provided $15.7 million in charity care, or 0.8% of patient revenue in 2003. Hospitals also incurred $45.5 million in bad debt, or 2.3% of patient revenue. The Report also documents the level of diversity in hospital governance, hospitals’ compliance with charity/uncompensated care licensing standards and individual community benefits activities conducted by hospitals in support of Healthy Rhode Islanders 2010.

"HEALTH monitors the community benefits provided by hospitals and reports them to the public," said Dr. Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health. "These community benefits include uncompensated care, research and education, public advocacy, non-revenue producing services, and other programs necessary to provide safe and adequate treatment, appropriate access and balanced health care delivery to residents of the state. These benefits are an important part of Rhode Island’s health safety net."

Author Bruce Cryan used survey data and audited financial statements to produce the Report. He notes that HEALTH has examined the issue of community benefits since 1989, but the Hospital Conversions Act, passed in 1996, further codified the importance and public reporting of this information.

The Report is available on HEALTH’s website public health news page at (www.HEALTH.ri.gov) or go to www.HEALTH.ri.gov/chic/performance/home.htm.

Additional reports on hospital costs, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and financial performance are also available on this website.