NJ hospitals report $2.8 billion in community benefits

New Jersey hospitals provided $2.8 billion in community benefits in 2013, according to a new report from the New Jersey Hospital Association. The total includes the value of free and discounted care for the poor, uninsured and senior citizens; community health offerings like immunization clinics and other wellness programs; education for future health care professionals; medical research; and a wide array of additional community programs. “Even in these times of change, New Jersey’s hospitals continue giving back to their communities in multiple ways,” said NJHA President and CEO Betsy Ryan. “That includes grassroots programs that provide health care services deep within the community, education for future health care professionals and more than $2.2 billion in unpaid care that is absorbed by the hospitals.”