4A (Expenses $ 5902198 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 7727161)
MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL PROVIDES QUALITY MEDICAL HEALTH CARE REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, HANDICAP, AGE OR ABILITY TO PAY BY OFFERING ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES TO ITS COMMUNITY. IN ACTIVE PURSUIT OF THIS MISSION, MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES IN THEIR 20 BED FACILITY AND IN FY22, HAD 18,442 TOTAL CASES. MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL HAS A TEAM OF EXPERT DOCTORS, NURSES AND TECHNICIANS THAT BLEND COMPASSIONATE CARE WITH THE LATEST, MOST ADVANCED DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT RESOURCES IN PROVIDING EMERGENCY CARE. MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IS READY 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR WITH FAST, EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL CARE. IN FY22, MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL HAD 6,611 CASES FOR THIS SERVICE LINE.

4B (Expenses $ 2666115 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 3490480)
MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL'S TEAM CAN HELP WITH REHABILITATION AND PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES AFTER AN ILLNESS, INJURY OR SURGERY. WORKING TOGETHER, YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR, SPECIALISTS AND THERAPISTS CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME LIMITATIONS, SO YOU CAN GET BACK TO LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST. MERCY CAN HELP WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND SPEECH THERAPY. IN FY22, MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL HAD 6,566 CASES FOR THIS SERVICE LINE.

4C (Expenses $ 1838425 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 2406867)
MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL'S RADIOLOGISTS USE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES TO PRODUCE PRECISE IMAGES AND EXACTING TEST RESULTS. MERCY OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. MERCY RADIOLOGISTS GIVE MORE INSIGHT INTO YOUR CONDITION, SO YOU RECEIVE AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT. IN FY22, MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL HAD 4,298 CASES FOR THIS SERVICE LINE.

4D (Expenses $ 4352913 including grants of $ 28045) (Revenue $ 5527135)
IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAM SERVICES DESCRIBED ABOVE, MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL ALSO SERVES PATIENTS IN ADDITIONAL SERVICE LINES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS: GASTROENTEROLOGY; ORTHOPEDICS; PEDIATRICS PULMONARY; UROLOGY & NEPHROLOGY.

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 3E
THE HOSPITAL FACILITY DID INCLUDE A PRIORITIZED LIST OF THE COMMUNITY'S SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS IN ITS MOST RECENT CHNA REPORT.

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 5 Facility , 1
Facility , 1 - MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL. THE OZARKS HEALTH COMMISSION (OHC) BUILT ON THE METHODOLOGY DEVELOPED FOR THE PREVIOUS CHNA AND, IN 2021, A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE OZARKS CAME TOGETHER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH STATUS, BEHAVIORS AND NEEDS OF THE POPULATIONS THEY SERVE. UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE LOCAL OZARKS HEALTH COMMISSION, THIS COLLABORATION IS THE LARGEST IN THE REGION SPANNING THREE STATES - MISSOURI, OKLAHOMA, AND KANSAS - 30 COUNTIES AND THREE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS. THE WORKING GROUP SAW THE VALUE OF USING A SYSTEMATIC, DATA-DRIVEN ASSESSMENT TO INFORM DECISIONS AND GUIDE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS ON A REGIONAL LEVEL. THIS LARGER, CONCERTED APPROACH WILL LEVERAGE COMMON STRENGTHS AND STRATEGIES TO MOVE IN THE SAME DIRECTION ON SIGNIFICANT HEALTH CONCERNS. THE FOLLOWING GROUPS TOOK PART IN SOME PHASE OF THE WORK THAT GENERATED MOUNTAIN VIEW'S COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT: (THE MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMUNITY CONSISTS OF: DOUGLAS COUNTY, MO; OZARK COUNTY, MO; HOWELL COUNTY, MO AND SHANNON COUNTY, MO.) -MERCY COWORKERS WHO SERVED ON TEAMS, ORGANIZED ROUNDTABLES AND DEVELOPED PROGRAMS TO RESPOND TO IDENTIFIED NEEDS. -THE OZARKS HEALTH COMMISSION, WHICH CONSISTS OF BURRELL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, CHRISTIAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPT., CITY OF JOPLIN HEALTH DEPT., COX HEALTH, FREEMAN HEALTH SYSTEM, JASPER COUNTY HEALTH DEPT., LAWRENCE COUNTY HEALTH DEPT., MERCY, SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY HEALTH DEPT., TANEY COUNTY HEALTH DEPT., AND THE VERNON COUNTY HEALTH DEPT. IN 2021, COMMISSION STAKEHOLDERS BEGAN THE RHA PROCESS WITH ANALYSIS OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE HEALTH DATA (SECONDARY DATA) AND PARTICIPATING HEALTH SYSTEMS' EMERGENCY ROOM UTILIZATION DATA (PRIMARY DATA) TO IDENTIFY HEALTH ISSUES OF GREATEST CONCERN ACROSS THE REGION. THE RESULT WAS A RANKED LIST OF EIGHT OZARKS HEALTH COMMISSION REGION HEALTH ISSUES. A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE HEALTH ISSUES AND INDICATORS USED CAN BE FOUND IN THE OHC REGIONAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT. TO REPRESENT DIVERSE VIEWS FROM ACROSS THE REGION AND POPULATION, QUALITATIVE DATA WAS GARNERED. ACROSS THE OHC REGION THESE VIEWPOINTS WERE SOLICITED VIA 75 INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS, 10 FOCUS GROUPS AND 2,638 SURVEYS. METHODOLOGIES USED FOR THE INITIAL SCORING/RANKING OF THE HEALTH ISSUES AND THE FULL REPORT OF THE QUALITATIVE WORK CAN BE FOUND IN OHC REGIONAL REPORT. THIS PRIORITIZATION INFORMATION CAN BE USED BY ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLANS, GUIDE DECISION MAKING, AND FOSTER COLLABORATION ACROSS INITIATIVES. DURING SEPT. AND OCT. 2021, 12 INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS AND 2 VIRTUAL FOCUS GROUPS WERE CONDUCTED IN DOUGLAS, OZARK, HOWELL, AND SHANNON COUNTIES. THOSE INTERVIEWED REPRESENTED HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES. THE STEERING COMMITTEE HAD ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS ASSESSMENTS THAT VULNERABLE, DISENFRANCHISED, AND AT RISK POPULATIONS ARE A KEY FACTOR WHEN IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS. POPULATIONS OF INTEREST MAY ALSO BE REFERRED TO AS VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SUCH AS: PEOPLE IN POVERTY, MINORITIES, THE ELDERLY, VARYING DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, THOSE EXPERIENCING HIGHER RATES OF CHRONIC DISEASE/ILLNESS AND THOSE EXPERIENCING WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES. A SUB-COMMITTEE WAS FORMED TO REVIEW AND UPDATE THE PREVIOUS PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING POPULATIONS OF INTEREST. THE SUB-COMMITTEE AGREED TO CONTINUE TO USE THE PREVIOUSLY USED SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX (SVI), WHICH WAS CREATED TO HELP EMERGENCY PLANNERS IDENTIFY AND MAP GROUPS THAT MAY BE MOST AT RISK IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER. THE SVI USES U.S. CENSUS AND AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA TO IDENTIFY AT RISK GROUPS BY RANKING ALL CENSUS TRACTS ON 15 SOCIAL FACTORS. THE FACTORS ARE GROUPED INTO FOUR MAIN THEMES, HOUSING & TRANSPORTATION, MINORITY STATUS AND LANGUAGE, HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION & DISABILITY AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. EACH OF THESE SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE PREDICTIVE OF BEHAVIORS THAT LEAD TO POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES RELATED TO COVID 19, HEART DISEASE, LUNG DISEASE, MENTAL HEALTH, ORAL HEALTH, DIABETES, AND CANCER. INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS ARE MORE DIRECTLY TIED TO A PERSON'S MENTAL HEALTH. THEREFORE, ADDRESSING POPULATIONS THAT LIVE NEAR OR BELOW POVERTY, HAVE LOW EDUCATION LEVELS, AND/OR ARE UNEMPLOYED, WILL IMPACT THEIR HEALTH RELATED TO ALL ASSESSED HEALTH ISSUES. OF THE 2,628 SURVEY RESPONDENTS FROM THE REGION, 8.65% INDICATED THEY LIVED IN THE MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMUNITY. RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED TO RANK PERCEIVED COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND THE TOP 10 THAT EMERGED WERE: 1. DRUG AND OTHER SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES, INCLUDING DETOX 2. EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 3. INTEGRATED CARE 4. AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILDCARE 5. PREVENTION, EDUCATION, AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR SUBSTANCE USE 6. CARE COORDINATION BETWEEN HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND OTHER HEALTH CARE SETTINGS 7. ADULT MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES 8. ADOLESCENT AND CHILDREN MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SERVICES 9. AFFORDABLE HOUSING 10. SOCIAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THOSE INTERVIEWED REPRESENTED HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES. STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATING IN INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUPS AGREED WITH SURVEY RESPONDENTS ABOUT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND HEALTHCARE. THIS INFORMATION WAS CONSIDERED DURING THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING HEALTH PRIORITIES FOR THE MOUNTAIN VIEW COMMUNITY.

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 6a Facility , 1
Facility , 1 - MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL. THE CHNA WAS CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOLLOWING HOSPITAL FACILITIES: COXHEALTH SYSTEM, BURRELL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND JORDAN VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 6b Facility , 1
Facility , 1 - MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL. THE CHNA WAS CONDUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FOLLOWING NON-HOSPITAL FACILITIES: CHRISTIAN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SPRINGFIELD-GREENE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WEBSTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 11 Facility , 1
Facility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

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 20 Facility , 1
Facility , 1 - MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL. OTHER AREAS FROM A NOTICE PERSPECTIVE: FAP IS POSTED IN ALL REGISTRATION AREAS, FULL POLICY AND PLAIN LANGUAGE DOCUMENT POSTED ON WEBSITE, PLAIN LANGUAGE DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE WHEN REQUESTED, THERE IS A NOTICE ON STATEMENT, AND ALL PATIENTS GET THREE STATEMENTS BEFORE THEY CAN GO TO A COLLECTION AGENCY.

Schedule H, Part I, Line 6a Community benefit report prepared by related organization
THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT IS PREPARED BY ITS ULTIMATE PARENT ENTITY, MERCY HEALTH (EIN: 43-1423050).

Schedule H, Part I, Line 7 Costing Methodology used to calculate financial assistance
TOTAL EXPENSES FROM FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 25, COLUMN (A) ARE $16,594,362. INCLUDED IN THIS AMOUNT WAS BAD DEBT EXPENSE (CHARGES) OF $1,859,418. EXPENSES FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING LINE 7, COLUMN (F) ARE $14,734,944.

Schedule H, Part III, Line 2 Bad debt expense - methodology used to estimate amount
TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF BAD DEBT EXPENSE, AT COST, BAD DEBT EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENT ACCOUNTS WAS MULTIPLIED BY A RATIO OF COST TO CHARGES. THE RATIO OF COST TO CHARGES USED WAS BASED ON DETAILED COST ACCOUNTING, WHERE AVAILABLE. WHERE COST ACCOUNTING IS NOT AVAILABLE, COST REPORT COST TO CHARGE RATIOS WERE UTILIZED.

Schedule H, Part III, Line 3 Bad Debt Expense Methodology
THE FILING ORGANIZATION DETERMINED THAT THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF BAD DEBT EXPENSE (AT COST) ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENTS ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITY CARE POLICY IS $0. ALTHOUGH THE CHARITY CARE POLICY REQUIRES THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PATIENT REQUESTING ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE A PROCESS UNDER PRESUMPTIVE CHARITY TO ADDRESS ACCOUNTS FOR PATIENTS WHO DO NOT PROVIDE THE INFORMATION. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CHARITY POLICY IS COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO CAPTURE ALMOST ALL PATIENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR CHARITY CARE.

Schedule H, Part III, Line 4 Bad debt expense - financial statement footnote
IN MAY 2014, THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (FASB) AND INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATE (ASU) 2014-09, REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (TOPIC 606). THE HEALTH SYSTEM ADOPTED ASU 2014-09 ON JULY 1, 2018 USING A FULL RETROSPECTIVE BASIS. UPON ADOPTION, THE MAJORITY OF WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED AS PROVISION FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNTS AND PRESENTED AS A REDUCTION TO PATIENT SERVICE REVENUE ON THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS IS TREATED A PRICE CONCESSION THAT REDUCES THE TRANSACTION PRICE, WHICH IS REPORTED AS PATIENT SERVICE REVENUE. AS SUCH, BAD DEBT EXPENSE IS NOT REFERENCED IN MERCY HEALTH AND SUBSIDIARIES AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. BAD DEBT EXPENSE IS TRACKED FOR FORM 990 REPORTING AS FOLLOWS: PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE THAT ARE DEEMED UNCOLLECTIBLE, INCLUDING THOSE PLACED WITH COLLECTION AGENCIES, ARE INITIALLY CHARGED AGAINST THE ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH COLLECTION POLICIES OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, ARE RECLASSIFIED TO CHARITY CARE IF DEEMED TO OTHERWISE MEET THE HEALTH SYSTEM'S CHARITY CARE POLICY. THE PROVISION FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLES IS BASED UPON MANAGEMENT'S ASSESSMENT OF HISTORICAL AND EXPECTED NET COLLECTIONS CONSIDERING BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, TRENDS IN HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, AND OTHER COLLECTION INDICATORS. PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MANAGEMENT ASSESSES THE ADEQUACY OF THE ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLES BASED UPON THE PAYOR COMPOSITION AND AGING OF RECEIVABLES WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE HISTORICAL PAYMENT AND WRITE-OFF EXPERIENCE BY PAYOR CATEGORY. THE RESULTS OF THESE REVIEWS ARE THEN USED TO MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROVISION FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLES TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLES. AFTER SATISFACTION OF AMOUNTS DUE FROM INSURANCE, THE HEALTH SYSTEM FOLLOWS ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES FOR PLACING PAST-DUE PATIENT BALANCES WITH COLLECTION AGENCIES.

Schedule H, Part III, Line 8 Community benefit & methodology for determining medicare costs
IT IS THE POSITION OF MERCY THAT 100% OF ANY SHORTFALL SHOULD BE TREATED AS COMMUNITY BENEFIT. THIS AMOUNT REPRESENTS COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES THAT REMAIN UNCOMPENSATED TO THE PROVIDER. THE UNREIMBURSED COSTS OF MEDICARE IS CALCULATED BY THE GROSS CHARGES NET OF THE COST TO CHARGE RATIO LESS ANY PAYMENTS, DEDUCTIONS OR REIMBURSEMENTS USING THE ANNUAL MEDICARE COST REPORT (CMS FORM 2552-96).

Schedule H, Part III, Line 9b Collection practices for patients eligible for financial assistance
MERCY'S COLLECTION POLICY PROVIDES THAT MERCY WILL PERFORM A REASONABLE COMMUNICATION AND/OR REVIEW OF PATIENT ACCOUNTS AS IT RELATES TO ANY SERVICE PROVIDED AT OUR FACILITIES BEFORE TURNING THE ACCOUNT TO BAD DEBT OR TAKING LEGAL ACTION FOR NONPAYMENT. MERCY ACTIVELY SCRUBS ACCOUNTS FOR PAYOR PLAN COVERAGE, INCLUDING MEDICAID. IN THE EVENT AN ACCOUNT IS TURNED TO COLLECTIONS AND IS IDENTIFIED IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCE CHANGES, OR IS NOW REQUESTING ASSISTANCE, THE ACCOUNTS ARE RETURNED BY THE AGENCY AND CONSIDERED FOR CHARITY IF THE PATIENT PROVIDES THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. IF THE PATIENT FAILS TO RETURN THE INFORMATION, THE ACCOUNT WILL QUALIFY FOR COLLECTIONS. MERCY UTILIZES THE EXPERIAN TOOL TO ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE THE CHARITY QUALIFICATION PRIOR TO TURNING TO BAD DEBT, A PROCESS KNOWN AS PRESUMPTIVE CHARITY FOR ALL COMMUNITIES EXCEPT JOPLIN, MAUDE NORTON, CARTHAGE AND SOUTHEAST KANSAS. THIS PRESUMPTIVE SCREENING PROCESS DETAILS EVALUATIONS THAT TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO PATIENT BILLING AND ADDITIONALLY PRIOR TO BAD DEBT PLACEMENT. THE PRESUMPTIVE SCREENING WAS PER ENCOUNTER AND DID NOT PROMOTE ANY LOOK-BACK ADJUSTMENTS. MERCY WILL GRANT CHARITY IN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE HAS BEEN AN INABILITY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM PATIENTS OR THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IS NOT COMPLETE ENOUGH TO MAKE A CHARITY DETERMINATION WHEN A PATIENT HAS SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION. MERCY WILL PURSUE APPROPRIATE MEANS IN THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS FROM PATIENTS WITH AN ESTABLISHED ABILITY TO PAY OR AN UNWILLINGNESS TO COOPERATE IN VALIDATING ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THESE APPROPRIATE MEANS MAY INCLUDE LEGAL ACTION CONSISTENT WITH MERCY MISSION AND VALUES AFTER SENDING 3 MONTHLY STATEMENTS WITH THE FINAL INCLUDING NOTIFICATION; IF NO RESOLUTION THEY WILL BE TURNED TO COLLECTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THEY MAY INCLUDE LIENS UPON REAL PROPERTY AND REASONABLE WAGE GARNISHMENTS. LEGAL ACTIONS WILL GENERALLY NOT INCLUDE BANK GARNISHMENTS, REPOSSESSION OF ASSETS OR FORECLOSURES TO ENSURE SATISFACTION OF A LIEN. MERCY HAS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED TO ADDRESS THE INITIATION OF LEGAL ACTION AND ANNUALLY REVIEW COMPLIANCE WITH POLICIES BUT ENSURE 120 DAYS OF BILLING AND COLLECTIONS OCCUR PRIOR TO ANY EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTIONS ARE PURSUED.

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 16a FAP website
- MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL: Line 16a URL: https://www.mercy.net/patients-visitors/billing/financial-assistance/;

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 16b FAP Application website
- MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL: Line 16b URL: https://www.mercy.net/patients-visitors/billing/financial-assistance/;

Schedule H, Part V, Section B, Line 16c FAP plain language summary website
- MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL: Line 16c URL: https://www.mercy.net/patients-visitors/billing/financial-assistance/;

Schedule H, Part VI, Line 4 Community information
THE PRIMARY SERVICE AREA FOR MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL INCLUDES HOWELL AND SHANNON COUNTIES IN MISSOURI. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS DERIVED FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD DEMOGRAPHICS AND 2021-2022 MO/HIDI INFORMATION. THE AREA'S POPULATION IS 18,990. THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS $36,000. 48.8% OF THE POPULATION IS 45 AND OLDER. 84% OF THE POPULATION IS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OR GREATER AND THE MEDIAN AGE IS 44.

Schedule H, Part VI, Line 2 Needs assessment
MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL BELIEVES THAT ITS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS IS COMPREHENSIVE ENOUGH TO CAPTURE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. THEREFORE, NO FURTHER STEPS WERE TAKEN TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL NEEDS. MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL MEASURES ALL COMMUNITY HEALTH INDICATORS AS SET FORTH BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION AND MEASURES ALL UTILIZATION ACTIVITY (PARTICULARLY FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS) TO FIRST UNDERSTAND THE STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. BASED ON THESE FINDINGS, MERCY REFINES ITS IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND MONITORS PROGRESS THROUGH A COMMUNITY BENEFIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT ALSO SERVES ON A COMMUNITY HEALTH COLLABORATION BOARD WITH OTHER AREA NONPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS TO MAKE SURE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE CORRECT AND TO DEVELOP ALIGNED STRATEGIES TO ASSESS THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES AND SUBSEQUENT IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES.

Schedule H, Part VI, Line 3 Patient education of eligibility for assistance
MERCY INFORMS AND EDUCATES PATIENTS AND PERSONS WHO MAY BE BILLED FOR PATIENT CARE ABOUT THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS OR UNDER THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY THROUGH SEVERAL MEANS. IF AT ANY TIME A PATIENT EXPRESSES HARDSHIP AND INABILITY TO PAY, THE ACCOUNT IS PLACED FOR REVIEW. IN ADDITION, PATIENTS HAVE SIGNAGE ABOUT THE POLICY AT THE ACCESS POINTS, AND ALL STAFF WORKING WITH THE PATIENT AT POINT OF SERVICE, SCHEDULING, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND EVEN THROUGH THE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY SCREENING HAVE THE MEANS TO SEND THE ACCOUNT FOR REVIEW. THERE IS THE PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY THAT IS BEING PROVIDED TO ALL WHOM EXPRESS HARDSHIP, IN ADDITION TO THE WEB ADDRESS PROVIDING THE APPLICATION, POLICIES, AND EVEN HOW UNINSURED ACCOUNTS ARE HANDLED. LASTLY, THE STATEMENTS MESSAGE TO THE PATIENT THAT MERCY DOES HAVE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND TO CALL TO SEE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. MERCY STAFF'S INTERNAL RESOURCES CERTIFIED TO ASSIST PATIENTS WITH MEDICAID APPLICATIONS AS WELL.

Schedule H, Part VI, Line 5 Promotion of community health
MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL PROVIDES QUALITY MEDICAL HEALTH CARE REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, HANDICAP, AGE OR ABILITY TO PAY. MERCY IS A CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE CORPORATION THAT, PURSUANT TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL CORE BELIEF THAT HEALTH CARE SERVICES ARE A VITAL AND INTEGRAL PART OF THE CHURCH'S HEALING MISSION, ENGAGES IN A MINISTRY WHICH PROVIDES GENERAL ACUTE CARE, AMBULATORY, LONG-TERM AND HOME CARE HEALTH SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN ITS COMMUNITIES. MERCY OFFERS SERVICES AND PROGRAMS WHICH FURTHER HEALTH PROMOTION, MAINTENANCE AND CARE TO THE COMMUNITY. PROGRAMS PROVIDED TO MEET THE COMMUNITY NEEDS INCLUDE SUPPORT GROUPS FOR VARIOUS SITUATIONS, OUTREACH PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, HEALTH RESOURCE COORDINATION, COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVES AND HEALTH FAIRS, ETC. MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHICH INCLUDES REPRESENTATION FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREAS. ALL BOARD MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST SURVEY. ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DISCLOSED BY BOARD MEMBERS ARE REVIEWED AND RESOLVED. THIS PROCESS ENSURES THAT PUBLIC, RATHER THAN PRIVATE, INTERESTS ARE SERVED BY MERCY. SURPLUS FUNDS AND UNRESTRICTED ASSETS HELD BY MERCY ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL ARE REINVESTED IN PATIENT CARE, MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH INITIATIVES WHICH SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO DELIVER COMPASSIONATE CARE AND EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.

Schedule H, Part VI, Line 6 Affiliated health care system
"THE FILING ORGANIZATION IS PART OF MERCY HEALTH (""MERCY""). MERCY IS A MISSOURI NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WITH ITS HEADQUARTERS (""MINISTRY OFFICE"") IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. MERCY PROVIDES HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN FOUR STATES - ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MISSOURI, AND OKLAHOMA - AND HAS OUTREACH MINISTRIES LOCATED IN ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, AND TEXAS. MERCY'S MISSION IS ""AS THE SISTERS OF MERCY BEFORE US, WE BRING TO LIFE THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS THROUGH OUR COMPASSIONATE CARE AND EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE."" AS OF JUNE 30, 2022, MERCY FACILITIES INCLUDED 30 ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS, 5 HEART HOSPITALS, 5 REHAB HOSPITALS, 2 CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS, 2 ORTHOPEDIC HOSPTIALS, AND 1 VIRTUAL CARE COMMAND CENTER. FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022, MERCY HAD MORE THAN 10.4 MILLION CLINIC AND OUTPATIENT VISITS, APPROXIMATELY 2,300 EMPLOYED PHYSICIANS, AND APPROXIMATELY 42,000 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT EMPLOYEES, MAKING MERCY THE SIXTH LARGEST CATHOLIC HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES. MERCY IS SPONSORED BY MERCY HEALTH MINISTRY, WHICH IS GOVERNED BY MEMBERS THAT INCLUDE SISTERS OF MERCY. MANY SERVICES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO FULFILLING MERCY'S MISSION ARE CENTRALIZED AT THE MINISTRY OFFICE. SUCH CENTRALIZED SERVICES INCLUDE: FINANCE (INCLUDING TREASURY, FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING, REVENUE MANAGEMENT, INTERNAL AUDIT, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND PAYROLL OPERATIONS, ANALYTICS AND DECISION SUPPORT); ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SUPPORT; CLINICAL INTEGRATION; CARE MANAGEMENT; CLINICAL PERFORMANCE ACCELERATION; CLINICAL ENGINEERING; CLINICAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT; COMPLIANCE; GRANTS AND RESEARCH SERVICES; LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE COUNSEL; MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS; PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION; PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT INFORMATICS; REAL ESTATE; SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT; MANAGED CARE STRATEGY SUPPORT; HUMAN RESOURCES (INCLUDING COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND RECRUITING); MISSION SERVICES AND ETHICS; PHILANTHROPY SUPPORT; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; AND, COMMUNITY RELATIONS. THE CENTRALIZATION OF SUCH SUPPORT SERVICES ENABLES MERCY TO ENSURE THAT EACH OF ITS COMMUNITIES, WHETHER LARGE OR SMALL, HAS THE SERVICES IT NEEDS."

Schedule H, Part VI, Line 7 State filing of community benefit report
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