AHA advertorial: Community benefits distinguish hospitals and health systems in health care sector 

Hospitals provide over $110 billion a year in community benefits, almost nine times the value of their federal tax exemption, according to an AHA advertorial today in the Wall Street Journal highlighting the data and programs that “distinguish hospitals from any other sector in health care.” 
 
“Beyond administering life-saving medical care to individual patients, all hospitals provide incomparable value to their communities by opening their doors to everyone who needs care, as well as working in partnership with others to improve and sustain the health of all of those in their communities,” writes AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “These efforts are as diverse as the communities they serve, and include neighborhood clinics, food banks and programs to address food insecurity, medical research, affordable housing, and education to improve health and well-being.”
 
In an AHA blog post last week, Pollack criticized a recent article in the Journal for failing to recognize that charity care is only one part of a hospital’s total community benefit.