The University of Michigan Health System provided nearly $308 million worth of community benefits in 2010, according to a recent Michigan Health & Hospital Association report.
That means UMHS accounts for a sizable proportion of the total community benefit provided by all of Michigan’s hospitals – an amount that the MHA reports as $2.6 billion for 2010, the most recent reporting period.
The greatest share of UMHS community benefit in fiscal year 2010 was nearly $178 million in uncompensated direct patient care, including charity care, unpaid patient debts and the difference between the cost of caring for patients in programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and the reimbursement UMHS received for their care.
This uncompensated care has risen over the years as UMHS expands its care and commitment to the uninsured and those enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare and other federal, state and county programs — yet absorbs the difference between cost and reimbursement.
The remaining $130 million includes the unreimbursed cost of health professions education, support of medical research, and a host of other community-oriented programs, services and activities directly supported by UMHS.
UMHS is now collecting data for fiscal year 2011. All departments, centers and groups that sponsored community programs or events in 2011 may visit http://www.med.umich.edu/comben/about/feedback.htm to submit information to be included in the next report.
“We stand firm in our commitment to serve our community not just through excellent care for all who come to us, but also through programs and services that reach out to those who need our help,” says Doug Strong, chief executive officer of the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers.
“This includes everything from the nutritious meals we provide to homebound seniors through our Meals on Wheels program, and the research studies that we help support when grants don’t cover the whole cost, to the stop-smoking classes we offer, and the care we provide through clinics in local schools and in partnership with our community mental health program.”
The increasingly difficult economic environment is stressing the ability of providers across Michigan to respond to the growing needs of residents without health insurance and those in public programs, making UMHS an even more important source of high-quality health care.
Read more about UMHS benefit to the community here.
Web Address: http://www.med.umich.edu/comben/about/feedback.htm
