Posts for Community Benefit & Economic Stability Project
Hospitals and Health Systems Receiving Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds Must Be Accountable to Their Communities
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has made approximately $300 billion in funding available to health care providers. The money was intended to help providers pay for costs related to treating COVID patients, as well as making up...
New Hospital Rankings Unveil Deficits in Direct Contributions to Communities
A new report examines hospitals by looking at the use of tests and procedures that offer little to no clinical benefit, services offered to underserved communities of color, and their contributions to community benefit.
Linking Lack of Medicaid Expansion to Increased Medical Debt – An Unsurprising Connection, An Opportunity to Address It
In addition to missing out on the benefits of Medicaid, individuals in states that have not expanded Medicaid also suffer more financially and accrue more debt than their counterparts in expansion states.
Larger ACA Premium Subsidies Are Covering Millions More: Here’s How Congress Can Make Them Permanent
Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, more than 2 million people have signed up for ACA Coverage or Medicaid. Unfortunately, these changes expire in two years.
Speaking Out Against Aggressive Medical Debt Collection Practices
Medical debt and collection actions further perpetuate racial inequities by limiting economic opportunities and further contributing to the wealth divide.
Sens. Warnock, Ossoff & Baldwin Want to Close the Medicaid Gap, Congress Must Act
This week Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock released a legislative proposal with senators Ossoff and Baldwin to close the Medicaid coverage gap in states that have yet to adopt Medicaid expansion.
Protecting People from Medical Debt: Successful Strategies from State Advocacy Campaigns
Several states have put forward legislation to protect patients from medical debt through improving hospital financial assistance policies and restricting debt collection activities against low-income individuals.
Hospital Billing and Financial Practices: “First Do No Harm”
Hospitals Should Make Certain Their Policies Do Not Burden Community Residents or Employees The doctrine, First Do No Harm, is a fundamental health care principle. It guides providers as they consider the possible harm that might result from their actions or interventions. At this time when...
Study after Study with the Same Results: Medicaid Expansion Is Good for States
Each week it seems like there is a new study that shows the benefits of expanding Medicaid – for both health and state budgets.
Possibilities On the Horizon: State Pathways to Health Care for Undocumented Communities
As we continue to wait and see what may happen on the federal level with legislative proposals such as the HEAL Act, states have stepped in to provide immigrant residents access to care.
Know Your Rights in Hospital Community Benefit Obligations
Too few people understand that non-profit hospitals are legally obligated to provide financial assistance or charity care, as well as other investments that benefit the community.
Two Hearings, One Priority: Consumers Must Pay Less for Prescription Drugs
This week, two congressional hearings on lowering prescription drug prices took center stage. The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee held hearings on the high cost of prescription drugs.
Centering Community Needs through Transparent Community Benefit
Over half of community hospitals in the United States are private, nonprofit organizations which receive tax-exempt status in exchange for providing community benefit.
Feds, States and Health System Need to Take Action to Reduce Disproportionate Medical Debt Burden on Black Communities
It is impossible to ignore the acute devastation faced by many Black individuals and their families during the current dual public health and economic crises.
Federal Action is Critical to Protect Consumers from Medical Debt
As Congress presses ahead on crafting its COVID-19 relief package, one of the issues they should address is the growing problem of medical debt. Medical debt is one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy and has caused irreparable harm...
Federal Relief from Surprise Medical Bills on the Way
When Izzy Benasso suffered a knee injury from a game of tennis, she underwent surgery, later receiving a total bill of $96,377 from Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. After several adjustments and discounts by the hospital, Izzy...
Strengthening Community Benefit Regulations to Address Health Equity
Hospitals have a responsibility to address longstanding health inequities in the communities they serve. One way they can do this is through their community benefit activities.
A Look at HFMA's New Guidelines for Best Practices in Medical Debt Resolution
Aggressive medical debt collection practices by hospitals and health systems have long contributed to economic hardship and instability. These practices are now particularly devastating as so many people are struggling to make ends meet in the midst of the COVID-19...
Providers Receiving Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds Must be Prohibited from Using Harmful Collection Practices
At this point in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, more than 5,750,000 people in the United States have tested positive and there have been nearly 180,000 deaths. The pandemic has caused broad shutdowns of economic activity, resulting in more than 23...
Health Policy Win: Georgia Advocates Pass a New Law Protecting Consumers from Surprise Medical Billing
Despite having health insurance, one in five adults have received a surprise medical bill from an out-of-network provider in the past two years alone. For many consumers, these bills have created serious financial burdens for themselves and their families. While...
Consumers Call on Congress to Do The Right Thing – Pass Legislation To End Surprise Medical Bills Now!
Who might guess that doing the right thing – going in to be tested for the novel coronavirus after the onset of flu-like symptoms following a trip to China – could result in a surprise medical bill of more than...
Looking Back/Looking Forward: Taking Stock of 2019 and What to Anticipate in 2020
When it comes to health care, 2019 was an intense year full of many challenges and also some bright spots. As it recedes in the rear view mirror, let’s take a look at some of the key developments from 2019...
Hospitals and Health Systems Receiving Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds Must Be Accountable to Their Communities
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has made approximately $300 billion in funding available to health care providers. The money was intended to help providers pay for costs related to treating COVID patients, as well as making up...
New Hospital Rankings Unveil Deficits in Direct Contributions to Communities
A new report examines hospitals by looking at the use of tests and procedures that offer little to no clinical benefit, services offered to underserved communities of color, and their contributions to community benefit.
Linking Lack of Medicaid Expansion to Increased Medical Debt – An Unsurprising Connection, An Opportunity to Address It
In addition to missing out on the benefits of Medicaid, individuals in states that have not expanded Medicaid also suffer more financially and accrue more debt than their counterparts in expansion states.
Larger ACA Premium Subsidies Are Covering Millions More: Here’s How Congress Can Make Them Permanent
Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, more than 2 million people have signed up for ACA Coverage or Medicaid. Unfortunately, these changes expire in two years.
Speaking Out Against Aggressive Medical Debt Collection Practices
Medical debt and collection actions further perpetuate racial inequities by limiting economic opportunities and further contributing to the wealth divide.
Sens. Warnock, Ossoff & Baldwin Want to Close the Medicaid Gap, Congress Must Act
This week Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock released a legislative proposal with senators Ossoff and Baldwin to close the Medicaid coverage gap in states that have yet to adopt Medicaid expansion.
Protecting People from Medical Debt: Successful Strategies from State Advocacy Campaigns
Several states have put forward legislation to protect patients from medical debt through improving hospital financial assistance policies and restricting debt collection activities against low-income individuals.
Hospital Billing and Financial Practices: “First Do No Harm”
Hospitals Should Make Certain Their Policies Do Not Burden Community Residents or Employees The doctrine, First Do No Harm, is a fundamental health care principle. It guides providers as they consider the possible harm that might result from their actions or interventions. At this time when...
Study after Study with the Same Results: Medicaid Expansion Is Good for States
Each week it seems like there is a new study that shows the benefits of expanding Medicaid – for both health and state budgets.
Possibilities On the Horizon: State Pathways to Health Care for Undocumented Communities
As we continue to wait and see what may happen on the federal level with legislative proposals such as the HEAL Act, states have stepped in to provide immigrant residents access to care.
Know Your Rights in Hospital Community Benefit Obligations
Too few people understand that non-profit hospitals are legally obligated to provide financial assistance or charity care, as well as other investments that benefit the community.
Two Hearings, One Priority: Consumers Must Pay Less for Prescription Drugs
This week, two congressional hearings on lowering prescription drug prices took center stage. The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee held hearings on the high cost of prescription drugs.
Centering Community Needs through Transparent Community Benefit
Over half of community hospitals in the United States are private, nonprofit organizations which receive tax-exempt status in exchange for providing community benefit.
Feds, States and Health System Need to Take Action to Reduce Disproportionate Medical Debt Burden on Black Communities
It is impossible to ignore the acute devastation faced by many Black individuals and their families during the current dual public health and economic crises.
Federal Action is Critical to Protect Consumers from Medical Debt
As Congress presses ahead on crafting its COVID-19 relief package, one of the issues they should address is the growing problem of medical debt. Medical debt is one of the leading causes of personal bankruptcy and has caused irreparable harm...
Federal Relief from Surprise Medical Bills on the Way
When Izzy Benasso suffered a knee injury from a game of tennis, she underwent surgery, later receiving a total bill of $96,377 from Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado. After several adjustments and discounts by the hospital, Izzy...
Strengthening Community Benefit Regulations to Address Health Equity
Hospitals have a responsibility to address longstanding health inequities in the communities they serve. One way they can do this is through their community benefit activities.
A Look at HFMA's New Guidelines for Best Practices in Medical Debt Resolution
Aggressive medical debt collection practices by hospitals and health systems have long contributed to economic hardship and instability. These practices are now particularly devastating as so many people are struggling to make ends meet in the midst of the COVID-19...
Providers Receiving Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds Must be Prohibited from Using Harmful Collection Practices
At this point in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, more than 5,750,000 people in the United States have tested positive and there have been nearly 180,000 deaths. The pandemic has caused broad shutdowns of economic activity, resulting in more than 23...
Health Policy Win: Georgia Advocates Pass a New Law Protecting Consumers from Surprise Medical Billing
Despite having health insurance, one in five adults have received a surprise medical bill from an out-of-network provider in the past two years alone. For many consumers, these bills have created serious financial burdens for themselves and their families. While...
Consumers Call on Congress to Do The Right Thing – Pass Legislation To End Surprise Medical Bills Now!
Who might guess that doing the right thing – going in to be tested for the novel coronavirus after the onset of flu-like symptoms following a trip to China – could result in a surprise medical bill of more than...
Looking Back/Looking Forward: Taking Stock of 2019 and What to Anticipate in 2020
When it comes to health care, 2019 was an intense year full of many challenges and also some bright spots. As it recedes in the rear view mirror, let’s take a look at some of the key developments from 2019...