Nebraska Hospitals Report on Community Benefits

Nebraska hospitals contributed nearly $1.27 billion to programs that benefited their communities in 2016, according to a new report by the Nebraska Hospital Association. “Hospitals care for the sick and injured, regardless of their ability to pay or the net cost to the hospital,” the report notes. “Beyond charity care, bad debt and unpaid costs of public programs (Medicaid and Medicare), Nebraska hospitals also support professional medical education, subsidized health services, medical research and more inside their walls. Beyond the brick and mortar, hospitals also provide community health improvement services, community building activities and cash and in-kind donations to local organizations. These non-traditional community benefits – both on the hospital campus and beyond – improve individual and community health, increase access to care and enhance the quality of life in the community.”