News Releases

Northeast Ohio Hospitals Deliver $1.873 billion in Community Benefit in 2020

The Center for Health Affairs’ analysis of Northeast Ohio hospitals’ community benefit filings finds that collectively they delivered $1.873 billion in community benefit in 2020, a $79.5 million increase from 2019.

The federal government counts as community benefit: charity care, Medicaid shortfall, research, health professionals education, subsidized health services, and community health improvement activities.

When Medicare shortfall and bad debt are considered along with community benefit, hospitals’ collective investment in their communities totaled $2.56 billion, up more than 6.5% from the prior year. This includes $781.1 million in charity care and bad debt.

Community Building

Community-building activities totaled $1.88 million in 2020. Not considered hospital community benefit by the federal government, these activities include improving housing, economic development, community health improvement advocacy, leadership development of community members, and other types of community support.

Wages & Salaries

Hospitals also collectively paid $8.65 billion in wages and benefits in 2020. Paid wages have a ripple effect in communities as employees spend their earnings on goods and services, supporting local businesses.

2020 Comparison to 2019

Among some of the more notable changes in hospital community benefit from 2019 to 2020:

• Financial assistance increased 12%, by $30 million.
• Medicaid shortfall decreased 4%, or $35 million. This is attributable in part to an increase in federal support of the Medicaid program during the COVID crisis.
• Medicare shortfall increased 71%, or $159 million.
• Subsidized health services increased 21%, or $8 million.
• Research increased 12%, or $16 million, as research efforts were amplified in the fight against COVID.
• Community building activities increased 84%, to $1.9 million.

About The Center’s Analysis

The Center’s community benefit analysis is based on data reported by its non-governmental, acute-care member hospitals on their IRS Form 990s. Governmental hospitals are not required to file an IRS 990. For this analysis, comparable, independently reported data was used where provided.

For more on hospital community benefit, contact us.