Meritus among top 1% of hospitals for community investment

Meritus Medical Center is in the top 1 percent of nonprofit hospitals where charity care and community investment exceed tax credits, according to a report released April 11, by the Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank advocating bold ideas for a just and caring system for health.

The report reviewed the finances of 1,773 nonprofit hospitals in the U.S., and calculated “fair share” spending by comparing each system’s spending on financial assistance and community investment to the estimated value of its tax exemption.

“At Meritus Health, our mission is simple, ‘To improve the health of our community,’” Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., president and CEO said. “We are all-in for supporting the needs of our community and as such we are committed to providing charity care and investing directly into programs and partnerships that support the health of our region,” he said.

The report looks at the tax year 2020, and shows that Meritus Medical Center was ranked #17 in the nation.

According to the Meritus Healthcare Foundation’s annual report from fiscal year 2020, the health system contributed more than $57 million in benefits to the community that year. Support for the community continues to be prioritized with more than $10 million reported for charity care alone in fiscal year 2022.

The majority of that community benefit was provided through mission-driven healthcare services and charity care, which is free or discounted health and health-related services provided for patients who cannot afford to pay their medical bills.

Read more about how Meritus supports its community at MeritusHealth.com/Foundation.