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Blue Mountain Hospital Inc
Palmerton, PA 18071
(click a facility name to update Individual Facility Details panel)
Bed count | 70 | Medicare provider number | 390019 | Member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals | NO | Children's hospital | NO |
Blue Mountain Hospital IncDisplay data for year:
(as % of functional expenses, which all tax-exempt organizations report on Form 990 Schedule H)
(as % of total functional expenses)
Community Benefit Expenditures: 2018
All tax-exempt organizations file a Form 990 with the IRS for every tax year. If the tax-exempt organization operates one or more hospital facilities during the tax year, the organization must attach a Schedule H to Form 990. On Part I of Schedule H, the organization records the expenditures it made during the tax year for various types of community benefits; 9 types are shown on this web tool. By default, this web tool presents community benefit expenditures as a percentage of the organization’s functional expenses, which it reports on Form 990, Part IX, Line 25, Column A. (The more commonly heard term, ‘total operating expenses’, which organizations report to CMS, is generally about 90% of the ‘functional expenses’). The user may change the default to see the dollar expenditures.
Operating expenses $ 82,377,106 Total amount spent on community benefits as % of operating expenses$ 12,166,162 14.77 %- Amount spent in the following IRS community benefit categories:
Financial Assistance at cost as % of operating expenses$ 701,926 0.85 %Medicaid as % of operating expenses$ 5,741,236 6.97 %Costs of other means-tested government programs as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %Health professions education as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %Subsidized health services as % of operating expenses$ 5,000,830 6.07 %Research as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %Community health improvement services and community benefit operations*
as % of operating expensesNote: these two community benefit categories are reported together on the Schedule H, part I, line 7e.$ 582,354 0.71 %Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit* as % of operating expenses$ 139,816 0.17 %Community building*
as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %- * = CBI denoted preventative categories
- Community building activities details:
Did tax-exempt hospital report community building activities? Not available Number of activities or programs (optional) 0 Physical improvements and housing 0 Economic development 0 Community support 0 Environmental improvements 0 Leadership development and training for community members 0 Coalition building 0 Community health improvement advocacy 0 Workforce development 0 Other 0 Persons served (optional) 0 Physical improvements and housing 0 Economic development 0 Community support 0 Environmental improvements 0 Leadership development and training for community members 0 Coalition building 0 Community health improvement advocacy 0 Workforce development 0 Other 0 Community building expense
as % of operating expenses$ 0 0 %Physical improvements and housing as % of community building expenses$ 0 Economic development as % of community building expenses$ 0 Community support as % of community building expenses$ 0 Environmental improvements as % of community building expenses$ 0 Leadership development and training for community members as % of community building expenses$ 0 Coalition building as % of community building expenses$ 0 Community health improvement advocacy as % of community building expenses$ 0 Workforce development as % of community building expenses$ 0 Other as % of community building expenses$ 0 Direct offsetting revenue $ 0 Physical improvements and housing $ 0 Economic development $ 0 Community support $ 0 Environmental improvements $ 0 Leadership development and training for community members $ 0 Coalition building $ 0 Community health improvement advocacy $ 0 Workforce development $ 0 Other $ 0
Other Useful Tax-exempt Hospital Information: 2018
In addition to community benefit and community building expenditures, the Schedule H worksheet includes sections on what percentage of bad debt can be attributable to patients eligible for financial assistance, and questions on the tax-exempt hospital's debt collection policy. When searching a specific tax-exempt hospital in this web tool, Section II provides information about bad debt and the financial assistance policy, and whether the state in which the tax-exempt hospital resides has expanded Medicaid coverage under the federal ACA.
Of the tax-exempt hospital’s overall operating expenses, amount reported as bad debt
as % of operating expenses$ 5,496,628 6.67 %Is the tax-exempt hospital considered a "sole community hospital" under the Medicare program? NO - Information about the tax-exempt hospital's Financial Assistance Policy and Debt Collection Policy
The Financial Assistance Policy section of Schedule H has changed over the years. The questions listed below reflect the questions on the 2009-2011 Schedule H forms and the answers tax-exempt hospitals provided for those years. The Financial Assistance Policy requirements were changed under the ACA. In the future, as the Community Benefit Insight web site is populated with 2021 data and subsequent years, the web tool will also be updated to reflect the new wording and requirements. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this section, we encourage you to contact your tax-exempt hospital directly.
Does the organization have a written financial assistance (charity care) policy? YES Did the tax-exempt hospital rely upon Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) to determine when to provide free or discounted care for patients? YES Amount of the tax-exempt hospital’s bad debt (at cost) attributed to patients eligible under the organization’s financial assistance (charity care) policy
as % of operating expenses$ 1,458,567 26.54 %- Did the tax-exempt hospital, or an authorized third party, take any of the following collection activities before determining whether the patient was eligible for financial assistance:
Reported to credit agency Not available Under the ACA, states have the choice to expand Medicaid eligibility for their residents up to 138% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Medicaid expansion provision of the ACA did not go into effect until January 2014, so data in this web tool will not reflect each state's current Medicaid eligibility threshold. For up to date information, please visit the Terms and Glossary under the Resources tab.
After enactment of the ACA, has the state in which this tax-exempt hospital is located expanded Medicaid? YES The federal poverty guidelines (FPG) are set by the government and used to determine eligibility for many federal financial assistance programs. Tax-exempt hospitals often use FPG guidelines in their Financial Assistance policies to determine which patients will qualify for free or discounted care.
If not, is the state's Medicaid threshold for working parents at or below 76% of the federal poverty guidelines? Not available In addition to the federal requirements, some states have laws stipulating community benefit requirements as a result of tax-exemption. The laws vary from state to state and may require the tax-exempt hospitals to submit community benefit reports. Data on this web tool captures whether or not a state had a mandatory community benefit reporting law as of 2011. For more information, please see Community Benefit State Law Profiles Comparison at The Hilltop Institute.
Does the state in which the tax-exempt hospital is located have a mandatory community benefit reporting statute? YES
Community Health Needs Assessment Activities: 2018
The ACA requires all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt hospitals to conduct a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years, starting with the hospital's tax year beginning after March 23, 2012. The 2011 Schedule H included an optional section of questions on the CHNA process. This web tool includes responses for those hospitals voluntary reporting this information. The web tool will be updated to reflect changes in these questions on the 2012 and subsequent Schedule H forms.
Did the tax-exempt hospital report that they had conducted a CHNA? YES Did the CHNA define the community served by the tax-exempt hospital? YES Did the CHNA consider input from individuals that represent the broad interests of the community served by the tax-exempt hospital? YES Did the tax-exempt hospital make the CHNA widely available (i.e. post online)? YES Did the tax-exempt hospital adopt an implementation strategy to address the community needs identified by the CHNA? YES
Supplemental Information: 2018
- Statement of Program Service Accomplishments
Description of the organization's program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses, and revenue, if any, for each program service reported.
4A (Expenses $ 9132929 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 8191291) EXPENSES INCURRED IN PROVIDING EMERGENCY AND OTHER MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS IN A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT STATEMENT.
4B (Expenses $ 8896533 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 10742330) EXPENSES INCURRED IN PROVIDING GENERAL MEDICAL SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS IN A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT STATEMENT.
4C (Expenses $ 8506724 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 7135770) EXPENSES INCURRED IN PROVIDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS IN A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT STATEMENT.
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Facility Information
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 3I "IN 2019, THE ORGANIZATION COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (""CHNA"") AND BEGAN A THREE - YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. FOR EACH SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEED IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE CHNA THE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED AN IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY THAT DESCRIBED PLANS TO ADDRESS EACH IDENTIFIED HEALTH NEED. IN 2017, SLUHN ANNOUNCED A MERGER WITH BLUE MOUNTAIN HEALTH SYSTEM, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 31, 2017. THE MERGER ADDED CAMPUSES IN PALMERTON AND LEHIGHTON, ALLOWING RESIDENTS OF RURAL CARBON COUNTY BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE. ADDITIONALLY, SLUHN AND GEISINGER ARE TEAMED UP TO BUILD A NEW ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL IN SCHUYLKILL COUNTY THAT OPENED IN 2019. GEISINGER ST. LUKES HOSPITAL FEATURES ADVANCED SPECIALTY SERVICES IN THE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING AND SURROUNDING OUTPATIENT CENTERS. THE ORGANIZATION'S MOST RECENT CHNA DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBE THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTIONS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE HOSPITAL'S PRIOR CHNA. HOWEVER, ANNUALLY THE ORGANIZATION PUBLICIZES INFORMATION ON ITS WEBSITE WHICH DESCRIBES THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTIONS TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE HOSPITALS MOST RECENTLY CONDUCTED CHNA. THE ORGANIZATION'S REPORT INCLUDES DETAIL WHICH SUMMARIZES AND EVALUATES MAJOR EFFORTS TIED TO THE ORGANIZATION'S 2019 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. THE ORGANIZATION'S IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE IS MADE WIDELY AVAILABLE ON ITS WEBSITE AND CAN FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING URL: WWW.SLHN.ORG/COMMUNITY-HEALTH/COMMUNITY-HEALTH-NEEDS-ASSESSMENT/CAMPUS"
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 5 "ST LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK CONDUCTED ONE COLLABORATIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (""CHNA"") FOR ITS RURAL CAMPUSES ST. LUKE'S MINERS, BLUE MOUNTAIN AND GEISINGER ST. LUKE'S. THESE CAMPUSES COMMUNITIES RESIDE IN THE RURAL REGIONS OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, IN CARBON AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES, (ALL LOCATIONS ARE DETERMINED HRSA-DESIGNATED RURAL BY HRSA RURAL HEALTH GRANTS ELIGIBILITY ANALYZER) AND SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE COALDALE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA. PRIMARY DATA WAS COLLECTED THROUGH KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEYS, WHERE APPROXIMATELY 10,234 SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED WITHIN THE NETWORK'S ELEVEN CAMPUS GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS. PRIMARY DATA WAS ALSO COLLECTED THROUGH CAMPUS SPECIFIC KEY STAKEHOLDER FOCUS GROUPS, WHERE THE MAIN PRIORITY HEALTH NEEDS WERE IDENTIFIED. SECONDARY DATA INCLUDED THE USE OF COUNTY LEVEL, STATE LEVEL, AND NATIONAL LEVEL DATA OBTAINED VIA THE U.S. CENSUS, THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, VITAL STATISTICS, COMMUNITY COMMONS, THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AS WELL AS OTHER DATA SOURCES, WHICH CAN BE FOUND FOOTNOTED IN EACH CHNA. THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED WITHIN EACH FOCUS GROUP WAS SUPPLEMENTED BY SURVEY DATA AND SECONDARY DATA IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE NEEDS IN EACH COMMUNITY AND THE OUTSIDE FACTORS AFFECTING THESE HEALTH ISSUES. THROUGH REVIEW OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA, THE NETWORK WAS ABLE TO CATEGORIZE THE IDENTIFIED HEALTH NEEDS INTO THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES FOR THE JUNE 30, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2022 CHNA CYCLE."
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTIONS 6A & 6B THE ORGANIZATION'S CHNA WAS CONDUCTED BY ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK. THE NETWORK CONDUCTED A COLLABORATIVE CHNA FOR ITS WESTERN RURAL CAMPUSES WHICH INCLUDED: ST. LUKE'S MINERS CAMPUS, BLUE MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL (ST. LUKE'S LEHIGHTON AND PALMERTON CAMPUSES), AND GEISINGER ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL. IN ADDITION, THE CHNA IS THE RESULT OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WORKED TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY THE MOST-PRESSING HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE CHNA AND CHNA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK WEBSITE. AS OUTLINED IN THE APPENDIX OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CHNA THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - ABC TAMAQUA HI-RISE APARTMENTS - AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER, EAST CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST PA - BOROUGH OF TAMAQUA - CARBON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - CARBON COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION - CARBON MONROE PIKE MENTAL HEALTH - CHILD DEVELOPMENT INC, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE CENTER SERVING CARBON COUNTY - FAMILY PROMISE OF CARBON COUNTY - FAITH FELLOWSHIP NETWORK - FORMER JIM THORPE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT - HEAD START, PATHSTONE COALDALE - HEALTHY SMILES, HAPPY KIDS DENTAL VAN BLUE MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL - HOLLAND COUNSELING ASSOCIATES - HOMETOWN RHC MENTAL HEALTH - INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICE - LANSFORD ALIVE LANSFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT - LEHIGH CARBON COMMUNITY COLLEGE - MAJESTIC HOUSE APARTMENTS - NEW BEGINNINGS SOCIAL WORK - NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY OF GOD, TAMAQUA - NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP - PANTHER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT - PATHSTONE LEHIGHTON - PENN KIDDER LIBRARY - THE REDCO GROUP - SALVATION ARMY - SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY ACTION - SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM - SCHUYLKILL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY - SCHUYLKILL COUNTY VISION - SHINE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - STS TRANSIT - ST. LUKE'S INTERNAL MEDICINE - ST. LUKE'S MINERS HOSPITAL ONCOLOGY - ST. LUKE'S NESQUEHONING RURAL HEALTH CENTER - ST. LUKE'S MINERS NURSING & REHABILITATION - ST. LUKE'S MINERS VPMA - SUMMIT HILL LIONS CLUB - TAMAQUA POLICE DEPARTMENT - TAMAQUA LIBRARY - TAMAQUA AREA ADULT DAY CARE CENTER - TAMAQUA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT - TAMAQUA COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER - TAMAQUA FAMILY PRACTICE - TAMAQUA YMCA - TURN TO US - UNITED WAY SCHUYLKILL COUNTY
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 7A "THE ORGANIZATION IS AN AFFILIATE WITHIN ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK; A TAX-EXEMPT INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE DELIVERY NETWORK (""NETWORK""). DUE TO CHARACTER LIMITATIONS, THE WEBSITE LISTED IN SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 7A, IS THE HOME PAGE FOR THE SYSTEM. THE ORGANIZATION'S CHNA CAN BE ACCESSED AT THE FOLLOWING PAGE INCLUDED IN THE NETWORK'S WEBSITE: WWW.SLHN.ORG/COMMUNITY-HEALTH/COMMUNITY-HEALTH-NEEDS-ASSESSMENT/CAMPUS"
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 10 "THE ORGANIZATION IS AN AFFILIATE WITHIN ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK; A TAX-EXEMPT INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE DELIVERY NETWORK (""NETWORK""). THE NETWORK CREATED A NETWORK WIDE JOINT IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THE HEALTH NEEDS IDENTIFIED WITHIN EACH HOSPITAL FACILITY'S CHNA. DUE TO CHARACTER LIMITATIONS, THE WEBSITE LISTED IN SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 10, IS THE HOME PAGE FOR THE SYSTEM. THE NETWORK WIDE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY AN BE ACCESSED AT THE FOLLOWING PAGE INCLUDED IN THE NETWORK'S WEBSITE: WWW.SLHN.ORG/COMMUNITY-HEALTH/COMMUNITY-HEALTH-NEEDS-ASSESSMENT/CAMPUS"
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 11 THE ORGANIZATION'S CHNA WAS COMPLETED AND MADE WIDELY AVAILABLE PRIOR TO JUNE 30, 2019. THEREAFTER, A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM MET REGULARLY AND PARTICIPATED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN PROCESS. DURING THIS PROCESS AND THROUGH REVIEW OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DATA, THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO CATEGORIZE THE IDENTIFIED HEALTH NEEDS INTO THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES FOR THE 2019-2022 CHNA CYCLE. THESE PRIORITY HEALTH CATEGORIES INCLUDE: 1) IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE/REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES; 2) PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND PREVENTING CHRONIC DISEASE; 3) IMPROVING MENTAL/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; A NETWORK WIDE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY WAS CREATED TO ADDRESS THE THREE IDENTIFIED HEALTH PRIORITIES. THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY WAS DEVELOPED TO CONTINUE ESTABLISHED EFFORTS AND FOSTER COMMUNITY COLLABORATION TO MEET THE IDENTIFIED HEALTH NEEDS, THROUGH THREE NETWORK-WIDE INITIATIVES (1) HEALTHY KIDS, BRIGHT FUTURES; (2) FIT FOR LIFE; AND (3) HEALTH FOR ALL. THE NETWORK WIDE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY APPROACHES THE THREE HEALTH PRIORITY AREAS DETERMINED BY THE CHNA FROM THREE MAIN VANTAGES: 1) WELLNESS AND PREVENTION; 2) CARE TRANSFORMATION; AND 3) RESEARCH AND PARTNERSHIPS. THESE PRIORITY HEALTH AREAS AND UNMET NEEDS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT STRATEGY. ST. LUKE'S LEADERS CONTINUE TO MONITOR NEW PROGRAM DEVELOPMENTS AND SERVICES IN ORDER TO MEET AND ADDRESS THESE NEEDS. PROGRAMMING TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE CHNA IS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER 200 ORGANIZATIONS NETWORK WIDE, A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF PARTNERS CAN BE FOUND ON THE LAST PAGE OF EACH OF THE CAMPUS SPECIFIC CHNAS. THE ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK CHNA IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY AS WELL AS SEPARATE HOSPITAL CAMPUS IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES CAN BE VIEWED ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES AND IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES INCLUDE AND DESCRIBE VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND PLANS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE UNMET NEEDS DISCOVERED THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S CHNA PROCESS. ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE REPORTS DESCRIBE EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE NETWORK TO ADDRESS THE CHNA IDENTIFIED NEEDS. HOSPITALS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO, NOR CAN THEY MEET ALL OF THE UNMET NEEDS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. ANY UNMET NEEDS NOT ADDRESSED BY THE ADOPTED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE ALREADY BEING ADDRESSED IN THE SERVICE AREA BY THE HOSPITAL, OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, GOVERNMENT, OR VARIOUS LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 16 "THE ORGANIZATION IS AN AFFILIATE WITHIN ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK; A TAX-EXEMPT INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE DELIVERY NETWORK (""NETWORK""). DUE TO CHARACTER LIMITATIONS, THE WEBSITE LISTED IN SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 16, IS THE HOME PAGE FOR THE NETWORK. THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION AND PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY ARE MADE WIDELY AVAILABLE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE. THESE DOCUMENTS CAN BE ACCESSED AT THE FOLLOWING PAGE INCLUDED IN THE NETWORK'S WEBSITE: WWW.SLHN.ORG/BILLPAY/POLICIES-AND-PROCEDURES/FINANCIAL-ASSISTANCE-POLICIES"
SCHEDULE H, PART V, SECTION B, QUESTION 16J OTHER MEASURES TO PUBLICIZE THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL COUNSELING MEETINGS WITH PATIENTS WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE TO REVIEW THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY AND TO DISCUSS PAYMENT OPTIONS.
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Supplemental Information
SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 3C "THE GRANTING OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS BASED UPON AN INDIVIDUALIZED DETERMINATION OF FINANCIAL NEED, AND DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AGE, GENDER, RACE, SOCIAL OR IMMIGRANT STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. IN ADDITION TO THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA NOTED ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNINSURED, INELIGIBLE FOR ANY GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE BENEFIT PROGRAM, AND THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR CARE, BASED UPON DETERMINATION OF FINANCIAL NEED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY. PATIENTS WHOSE FAMILY INCOME EXCEEDS 300% OF THE FPL MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTED RATES ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS BASED ON THEIR SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS OR MEDICAL INDIGENCE, AT THE DISCRETION OF ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK. THERE ARE INSTANCES WHEN A PATIENT APPEARS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, BUT THERE IS NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FORM ON FILE DUE TO LACK OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. OFTEN THERE IS ADEQUATE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PATIENT OR OBTAINED THROUGH OTHER SOURCES, WHICH COULD PROVIDE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO PROVIDE THE PATIENT WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IN THE EVENT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A PATIENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK MAY USE OUTSIDE AGENCIES IN DETERMINING ESTIMATED INCOME AMOUNTS FOR THE BASIS OF DETERMINING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY AND POTENTIAL DISCOUNT AMOUNTS. PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY MAY BE DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF INDIVIDUAL LIFE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT MAY INCLUDE: - STATE-FUNDED PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS; - HOMELESS OR RECEIVED CARE FROM A HOMELESS CLINIC; - PARTICIPATION IN WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN PROGRAMS (WIC); - FOOD STAMP ELIGIBILITY; - SUBSIDIZED SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY; - ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER STATE OR LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNFUNDED (E.G., MEDICAID SPEND DOWN); - LOW INCOME/SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IS PROVIDED AS A VALID ADDRESS; - PATIENT IS DECEASED WITH NO KNOWN ESTATE; - DECLARED CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY AND CARE WAS INCURRED PRIOR TO BANKRUPTCY; AND - DECLARED CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY AND PATIENT WILL HAVE UNPAID BALANCE AFTER THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE IS RECEIVED. ADDITIONALLY, PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY MIGHT INCLUDE THE USE OF EXTERNAL PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE DATA SOURCES THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON A PATIENT'S OR A PATIENT'S GUARANTOR'S ABILITY TO PAY (SUCH AS CREDIT SCORING). ONCE DETERMINED, DUE TO THE INHERENT NATURE OF THE PRESUMPTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE PATIENT MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO 100% WRITE OFF OF THE ACCOUNT BALANCE. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK PROVIDES, WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION, CARE FOR ALL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONDITIONS TO INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY OR ABILITY TO PAY. IT IS THE POLICY OF ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK TO COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND ACTIVE LABOR TRANSPORT ACT OF 1986 (""EMTALA"") AND THE EMTALA REGULATIONS IN PROVIDING A MEDICAL SCREENING EXAMINATION AND SUCH FURTHER TREATMENT AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO STABILIZE AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONDITION FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL COMING TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SEEKING TREATMENT."
SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 6A NOT APPLICABLE.
SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7 "THE STRATAJAZZ DECISION SUPPORT/COST ACCOUNTING SYSTEM (""STRATAJAZZ"") WAS THE TOOL UTILIZED TO DETERMINE THE COST OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, UNREIMBURSED MEDICAID, MEDICAID HMO AND SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES. THE ENTIRE ACTIVITY WAS COSTED THROUGH THE STRATAJAZZ APPLICATION, TO INCLUDE INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT, EMERGENCY ROOM AND ALL PAYERS. COSTING CONSISTED OF ALLOCATING COST FROM THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL DOWN TO THE SERVICE ITEM LEVEL. ONCE COSTS WERE DETERMINED AT THE SERVICE ITEM LEVEL, WE THEN AGGREGATED ENCOUNTERS INTO THE DEFINED TARGETED GROUPS. FOR DETERMINATION OF THE UNREIMBURSED COSTS FOR MEDICAID, MEDICAID HMO AND SUBSIDIZED SERVICES REPORTED ON PART I, LINE 7, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AT COST, BAD DEBT, AND ALL OVERLAPPING CASES REPORTED ELSEWHERE WERE EXCLUDED. THE RATIO OF PATIENT CARE COST TO CHARGES WAS UTILIZED TO DETERMINE THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AT COST. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RATIO CONFORMS TO THE FORM 990 INSTRUCTIONS. THE MEDICARE SHORTFALL/SURPLUS WAS DETERMINED USING THE MEDICARE COMPLEX COST REPORTING FORM UTILIZING ALLOWABLE MEDICARE COSTS."
SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7G THE AMOUNT INCLUDED IN SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7G AS COMMUNITY BENEFIT EXPENSE REPRESENT SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES RELATED TO OB/GYN, WOUND CARE, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE HEALTH SERVICES, ALL OF WHICH ARE DOCUMENTED HEALTH NEEDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
SCHEDULE H, PART II THIS ORGANIZATION HAS DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN NUMEROUS COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH STATUS AND GENERAL BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE HOSPITAL. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SERVICE ON STATE AND REGIONAL ADVOCACY COMMITTEES AND BOARDS, VOLUNTEERISM WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED NON-PROFIT ADVOCACY GROUPS, AND PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCES AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF HEALTH CONCERNS. THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, CONDUCTS COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS AND HOLDS HEALTH EDUCATION SEMINARS AND OUTREACH SESSIONS FOR ITS PATIENTS AND FOR COMMUNITY PROVIDERS. PRESENTATIONS ARE PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.
SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 8 "MEDICARE COSTS WERE DERIVED FROM THE MEDICARE COST REPORT FILED BY THE ORGANIZATION. THE ORGANIZATION FEELS THAT MEDICARE UNDERPAYMENTS (SHORTFALL) AND BAD DEBT ARE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND ASSOCIATED COSTS ARE INCLUDABLE ON THE FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART I. AS OUTLINED MORE FULLY BELOW THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES THAT THESE SERVICES AND RELATED COSTS PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND ARE RENDERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSES AND MISSION IN PROVIDING MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUAL'S IN A NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY AND CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD PROMULGATED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (""IRS""). THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD IS THE CURRENT STANDARD FOR A HOSPITAL FOR RECOGNITION AS A TAX-EXEMPT AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION UNDER INTERNAL REVENUE CODE (""IRC"") 501(C)(3). THE ORGANIZATION IS RECOGNIZED AS A TAX-EXEMPT ENTITY AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION UNDER 501(C)(3) OF THE IRC. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO DEFINITION IN THE TAX CODE FOR THE TERM ""CHARITABLE"", A REGULATION PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY PROVIDES SOME GUIDANCE AND STATES THAT ""[T]HE TERM CHARITABLE IS USED IN 501(C)(3) IN ITS GENERALLY ACCEPTED LEGAL SENSE,PROVIDES EXAMPLES OF CHARITABLE PURPOSES, INCLUDING THE RELIEF OF THE POOR OR UNPRIVILEGED; THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL WELFARE; AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, RELIGION, AND SCIENCE. NOTE: IT DOES NOT EXPLICITLY ADDRESS THE ACTIVITIES OF HOSPITALS. IN THE ABSENCE OF EXPLICIT STATUTORY OR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS APPLYING THE TERM ""CHARITABLE"" TO HOSPITALS, IT HAS BEEN LEFT TO THE IRS TO DETERMINE THE CRITERIA HOSPITALS MUST MEET TO QUALIFY AS IRC 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. THE ORIGINAL STANDARD WAS KNOWN AS THE CHARITY CARE STANDARD. THIS STANDARD WAS REPLACED BY THE IRS WITH THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD WHICH IS THE CURRENT STANDARD. CHARITY CARE STANDARD IN 1956, THE IRS ISSUED REVENUE RULING 56-185, WHICH ADDRESSED THE REQUIREMENTS HOSPITALS NEEDED TO MEET IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR IRC 501(C)(3) STATUS. ONE OF THESE REQUIREMENTS IS KNOWN AS THE ""CHARITY CARE STANDARD."" UNDER THE STANDARD, A HOSPITAL HAD TO PROVIDE, TO THE EXTENT OF ITS FINANCIAL ABILITY, FREE OR REDUCED-COST CARE TO PATIENTS UNABLE TO PAY FOR IT. A HOSPITAL THAT EXPECTED FULL PAYMENT DID NOT, ACCORDING TO THE RULING, PROVIDE CHARITY CARE BASED ON THE FACT THAT SOME PATIENTS ULTIMATELY FAILED TO PAY. THE RULING EMPHASIZED THAT A LOW LEVEL OF CHARITY CARE DID NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT A HOSPITAL HAD FAILED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT SINCE THAT LEVEL COULD REFLECT ITS FINANCIAL ABILITY TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE. THE RULING ALSO NOTED THAT PUBLICLY SUPPORTED COMMUNITY HOSPITALS WOULD NORMALLY QUALIFY AS CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY SERVE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND A LOW LEVEL OF CHARITY CARE WOULD NOT AFFECT A HOSPITAL'S EXEMPT STATUS IF IT WAS DUE TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY'S LACK OF CHARITABLE DEMANDS. COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD IN 1969, THE IRS ISSUED REVENUE RULING 69-545, WHICH ""REMOVE[D]"" FROM REVENUE RULING 56-185 ""THE REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO CARING FOR PATIENTS WITHOUT CHARGE OR AT RATES BELOW COST."" UNDER THE STANDARD DEVELOPED IN REVENUE RULING 69-545, WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE ""COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD"", HOSPITALS ARE JUDGED ON WHETHER THEY PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF A BROAD CLASS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE RULING INVOLVED A HOSPITAL THAT ONLY ADMITTED INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD PAY FOR THE SERVICES (BY THEMSELVES, PRIVATE INSURANCE, OR PUBLIC PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICARE), BUT OPERATED A FULL-TIME EMERGENCY ROOM THAT WAS OPEN TO EVERYONE. THE IRS RULED THAT THE HOSPITAL QUALIFIED AS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION BECAUSE IT PROMOTED THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE IN ITS COMMUNITY. THE IRS REASONED THAT BECAUSE THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH WAS A CHARITABLE PURPOSE ACCORDING TO THE GENERAL LAW OF CHARITY, IT FELL WITHIN THE ""GENERALLY ACCEPTED LEGAL SENSE"" OF THE TERM ""CHARITABLE"", AS REQUIRED BY TREAS. REG. 1.501(C)(3)-1(D)(2). THE IRS RULING STATED THAT THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH, LIKE THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION AND RELIGION, IS ONE OF THE PURPOSES IN THE GENERAL LAW OF CHARITY THAT IS DEEMED BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE EVEN THOUGH THE CLASS OF BENEFICIARIES ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A DIRECT BENEFIT FROM ITS ACTIVITIES DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SUCH AS INDIGENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDED THAT THE CLASS IS NOT SO SMALL THAT ITS RELIEF IS NOT OF BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. THE IRS CONCLUDED THAT THE HOSPITAL WAS ""PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF A CLASS OF PERSONS THAT IS BROAD ENOUGH TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY"" BECAUSE ITS EMERGENCY ROOM WAS OPEN TO ALL AND IT PROVIDED CARE TO EVERYONE WHO COULD PAY, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR THROUGH THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT. OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HOSPITAL THAT THE IRS HIGHLIGHTED INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: ITS SURPLUS FUNDS WERE USED TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE, EXPAND HOSPITAL FACILITIES, AND ADVANCE MEDICAL TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH; IT WAS CONTROLLED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT CONSISTED OF INDEPENDENT CIVIC LEADERS; AND HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF PRIVILEGES WERE AVAILABLE TO ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS. THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION (""AHA"") FEELS THAT MEDICARE UNDERPAYMENTS (SHORTFALL) AND BAD DEBT ARE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND THUS INCLUDABLE ON THE FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART I. THIS ORGANIZATION AGREES WITH THE AHA POSITION. AS OUTLINED IN THE AHA LETTER TO THE IRS DATED AUGUST 21, 2007 WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST PUBLISHED DRAFT OF THE NEW FORM 990 AND SCHEDULE H, THE AHA FELT THAT THE IRS SHOULD INCORPORATE THE FULL VALUE OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT THAT HOSPITALS PROVIDE BY COUNTING MEDICARE UNDERPAYMENTS (SHORTFALL) AND BAD DEBT AS QUANTIFIABLE COMMUNITY BENEFIT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: - PROVIDING CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND SERVING MEDICARE PATIENTS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD. - MEDICARE, LIKE MEDICAID, DOES NOT PAY THE FULL COST OF CARE. RECENTLY, MEDICARE REIMBURSES HOSPITALS ONLY 92 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR THEY SPEND TO TAKE CARE OF MEDICARE PATIENTS. THE MEDICARE PAYMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION (""MEDPAC"") IN ITS MARCH 2007 REPORT TO CONGRESS CAUTIONED THAT UNDERPAYMENT WILL GET EVEN WORSE, WITH MARGINS REACHING A 10-YEAR LOW AT NEGATIVE 5.4 PERCENT. - MANY MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES, LIKE THEIR MEDICAID COUNTERPARTS, ARE POOR. MORE THAN 46 PERCENT OF MEDICARE SPENDING IS FOR BENEFICIARIES WHOSE INCOME IS BELOW 200 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. MANY OF THOSE MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID -- SO CALLED ELIGIBLES"". THERE IS EVERY COMPELLING PUBLIC POLICY REASON TO TREAT MEDICARE AND MEDICAID UNDERPAYMENTS SIMILARLY FOR PURPOSES OF A HOSPITAL'S COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND INCLUDE THESE COSTS ON FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART I. MEDICARE UNDERPAYMENT MUST BE SHOULDERED BY THE HOSPITAL IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TREATING THE COMMUNITY'S ELDERLY AND POOR. THESE UNDERPAYMENTS REPRESENT A REAL COST OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD COUNT AS A QUANTIFIABLE COMMUNITY BENEFIT. BOTH THE AHA AND THIS ORGANIZATION ALSO FEEL THAT PATIENT BAD DEBT IS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND THUS INCLUDABLE ON THE FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, PART I. THERE ARE COMPELLING REASONS THAT PATIENT BAD DEBT SHOULD BE COUNTED AS QUANTIFIABLE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS FOLLOWS: - A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY OF BAD DEBT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO LOW-INCOME PATIENTS, WHO, FOR MANY REASONS, DECLINE TO COMPLETE THE FORMS REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY FOR HOSPITALS' CHARITY CARE OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. A 2006 CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE (""CBO"") REPORT, NONPROFIT HOSPITALS AND THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS, CITED TWO STUDIES INDICATING THAT ""THE GREAT MAJORITY OF BAD DEBT WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENTS WITH INCOMES BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE"". - THE REPORT ALSO NOTED THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF BAD DEBT IS PENDING CHARITY CARE. UNLIKE BAD DEBT IN OTHER INDUSTRIES, HOSPITAL BAD DEBT IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT HOSPITALS FOLLOW THEIR MISSION TO THE COMMUNITY AND TREAT EVERY PATIENT THAT COMES THROUGH THEIR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. PATIENTS WHO HAVE OUTSTANDING BILLS ARE NOT TURNED AWAY, UNLIKE OTHER INDUSTRIES. BAD DEBT IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY THE AUDITING INDUSTRY'S STANDARDS ON REPORTING CHARITY CARE. MANY PATIENTS CANNOT OR DO NOT PROVIDE THE NECESSARY, EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO BE DEEMED CHARITY CARE BY AUDITORS. AS A RESULT, ROUGHLY 10% OF BAD DEBT IS PENDING CHARITY CARE. - THE CBO CONCLUDED THAT ITS FINDINGS ""SUPPORT THE VALIDITY OF THE USE OF UNCOMPENSATED CARE [BAD DEBT AND CHARITY CARE] AS A MEASURE OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS"" ASSUMING THE FINDINGS ARE GENERALIZABLE NATIONWIDE; THE EXPERIENCE OF HOSPITALS AROUND THE NATION REINFORCES THAT THEY ARE GENERALIZABLE. AS OUTLINED BY THE AHA, DESPITE THE HOSPITAL'S BEST EFFORTS AND DUE DILIGENCE, PATIENT BAD DEBT IS A PART OF THE HOSPITAL'S MISSION AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES. BAD DEBT REPRESENTS"
SCHEDULE H, PART VI; QUESTION 5 THE ENTIRE ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK PROMOTES THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY ON A DAILY BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE NETWORK COORDINATES AND OFFERS NUMEROUS COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMS, OUTCOMES BASED INITIATIVES AND SUPPORT GROUPS TO THE COMMUNITY, WITH A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. PLEASE REFER TO SCHEDULE O FOR A DETAILED COMMUNITY BENEFIT STATEMENT.
SCHEDULE H, PART VI; QUESTION 6 "OUTLINED BELOW IS A SUMMARY OF THE ENTITIES WHICH COMPRISE THE ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK: NOT FOR-PROFIT ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK ENTITIES: ============================================================= ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK, INC. ------------------------------- ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK, INC. IS THE TAX-EXEMPT PARENT OF THE ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK (""ST. LUKE'S""). THIS INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A GROUP OF AFFILIATED HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS. THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE SOLE MEMBER OF EACH AFFILIATED ENTITY. ST. LUKE'S IS AN INTEGRATED NETWORK OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE STATES OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK, INC. IS AN ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS TAX-EXEMPT PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) AND AS A NON-PRIVATE FOUNDATION PURSUANT TO INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 509(A)(3). AS THE PARENT ORGANIZATION, ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK, INC. STRIVES TO CONTINUALLY DEVELOP AND OPERATE A MULTI-HOSPITAL HEALTHCARE NETWORK WHICH PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT THROUGH THE PROVISION OF A COMPREHENSIVE SPECTRUM OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK, INC. ENSURES THAT ITS NETWORK PROVIDES EMERGENCY AND MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. THE NETWORKS ACTIVE HOSPITALS INCLUDE: ST. LUKES HOSPITAL ALLENTOWN CAMPUS, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL ANDERSON CAMPUS, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL BETHLEHEM CAMPUS, ST. LUKES HOSPITAL GNADEN HUETTEN CAMPUS, ST. LUKES HOSPITAL MINERS CAMPUS, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL MONROE CAMPUS, ST. LUKES HOSPITAL PALMERTON CAMPUS, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL QUAKERTOWN CAMPUS, ST. LUKES HOSPITAL SACRED HEART CAMPUS AND ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL WARREN CAMPUS. EACH OF THESE HOSPITALS OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA OUTLINED IN INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (""IRS"") REVENUE RULING 69-545: 1) EACH PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY, INCLUDING CHARITY CARE, SELF-PAY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID PATIENTS; 2) EACH OPERATES AN ACTIVE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR ALL PERSONS; WHICH IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS PER YEAR; 3) EACH MAINTAINS AN OPEN MEDICAL STAFF, WITH PRIVILEGES AVAILABLE TO ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS; 4) CONTROL OF EACH RESTS WITH ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF ST. LUKE'S HEALTH NETWORK, INC. BOTH BOARDS ARE COMPRISED OF A MAJORITY OF INDEPENDENT CIVIC LEADERS AND OTHER PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY; AND 5) SURPLUS FUNDS ARE USED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PATIENT CARE, EXPAND AND RENOVATE FACILITIES AND ADVANCE MEDICAL CARE; PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA ---------------------------------------------- ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA IS COMPRISED OF TWO NON-PROFIT HOSPITAL CAMPUSES: A 480-BED CAMPUS IN BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA AND A 158 BED CAMPUS IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA IS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. MOREOVER, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. ST. LUKE'S AIRMED, LLC ---------------------- A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OWNED BY ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS ENTITY IS CURRENTLY INACTIVE. ST. LUKE'S HOMESTAR SERVICES, LLC --------------------------------- A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OWNED BY ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS ENTITY PROVIDES OUTPATIENT SERVICES IN BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. POCONO MRI IMAGING AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTER, LLC --------------------------------------------- A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OWNED BY ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS ENTITY IS CURRENTLY INACTIVE. EVANTAGE HEALTH, LLC -------------------- A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OWNED BY ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS ENTITY IS CURRENTLY INACTIVE. ST. LUKE'S CARE, LLC -------------------- A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OWNED BY ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS ENTITY PROVIDES CLINICAL SERVICES IN ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. ST. LUKE'S SHARED SAVINGS PLAN, LLC ----------------------------------- A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DISREGARDED FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES OWNED BY ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. THIS ENTITY IS LOCATED IN ALLENTOWN PENNSYLVANIA. THE ORGANIZATION IS CURRENTLY INACTIVE. ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL ANDERSON CAMPUS ----------------------------------- ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL ANDERSON CAMPUS IS A 108-BED NON-PROFIT HOSPITAL LOCATED IN EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA. ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL ANDERSON CAMPUS IS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. MOREOVER, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL ANDERSON CAMPUS OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL MONROE CAMPUS ---------------------------------- ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL MONROE CAMPUS IS A 108-BED NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LOCATED IN BARTONSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, MONROE COUNTY. ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL MONROE CAMPUS IS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. MOREOVER, ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL MONROE CAMPUS OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. CARBON-SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC. ------------------------------------------ CARBON-SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC. DBA ST. LUKE'S MINERS MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER IS A 45-BED NON-PROFIT ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL LOCATED IN COALDALE, PENNSYLVANIA. CARBON-SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC. IS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. MOREOVER, CARBON-SCHUYLKILL COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC. OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. ST. LUKE'S QUAKERTOWN HOSPITAL ------------------------------ ST. LUKE'S QUAKERTOWN HOSPITAL IS A 62-BED NON-PROFIT HOSPITAL LOCATED IN QUAKERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. ST. LUKE'S QUAKERTOWN HOSPITAL IS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. MOREOVER, ST. LUKE'S QUAKERTOWN HOSPITAL OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. ST. LUKE'S WARREN HOSPITAL, INC. -------------------------------- ST. LUKE'S WARREN HOSPITAL, INC. IS A 198-BED NON-PROFIT ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL LOCATED IN PHILLIPSBURG, NEW JERSEY. ST. LUKE'S WARREN HOSPITAL, INC. IS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. MOREOVER, ST. LUKE'S WARREN HOSPITAL, INC. OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. BLUE MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL, INC. ---------------------------- BLUE MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL, INC. IS COMPRISED OF TWO NON-PROFIT HOSPITAL CAMPUSES; ST. LUKES HOSPITAL GNADEN HUETTEN CAMPUS AND ST. LUKES HOSPITAL PALMERTON CAMPUS. BLUE MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL IS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN INTERNAL REVENUE CODE 501(C)(3) TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. PURSUANT TO ITS CHARITABLE PURPOSES, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR ABILITY TO PAY. MOREOVER, BLUE MOUNTAIN HOSPITAL OPERATES CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545. SACRED HEAR"
SCHEDULE H, PART VI; QUESTION 7 NOT APPLICABLE. THE ENTITY AND RELATED PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS ARE LOCATED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY. NO COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT IS REQUIRED TO BE FILED WITH EITHER PENNSYLVANIA OR NEW JERSEY.
SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINES 2, 3 & 4 BAD DEBT EXPENSE WAS CALCULATED USING THE PROVIDERS' BAD DEBT EXPENSE MULTIPLIED BY ITS COST TO CHARGE RATIO. ON JULY 1, 2018 THE NETWORK ADOPTED ASU 2014-09, REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (TOPIC 606) USING THE FULL RETROSPECTIVE TRANSITION METHOD. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS STANDARD, BAD DEBT EXPENSE IS NO LONGER SHOWN AS A SEPARATE LINE WITHIN THE NETWORKS AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, INSTEAD NET PATIENT SERVICE REVENUE IS REPORTED AT THE AMOUNT THAT REFLECTS THE CONSIDERATION TO WHICH THE NETWORK EXPECTS TO BE ENTITLED IN EXCHANGE FOR PROVIDING CARE. PLEASE REFER TO FOOTNOTE 3 WITHIN THE NETWORKS CONSOLIDATED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC AND THE REPORTING OF THE NETWORKS REVENUE RECOGNITION AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.
SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 9B "ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK MANAGEMENT DEVELOPED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COLLECTION PRACTICES THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PATIENT QUALIFIES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, A PATIENT'S GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO APPLY FOR A GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAM OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK AND A PATIENT'S GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO COMPLY WITH HIS OR HER PAYMENT AGREEMENTS. BILLING & COLLECTION POLICY --------------------------- THE CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY IS ADMINISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MISSION AND VALUES OF THE HOSPITAL AS WELL AS FEDERAL AND STATE LAW. THE POLICY IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE FOR ALL PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY WHILE MAINTAINING THE NETWORK'S FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAXIMIZE REIMBURSEMENT AND MINIMIZE BAD DEBT. THE ORGANIZATION'S CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY IS INTENDED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT EACH INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF HIS OR HER CARE. THE ORGANIZATION MAKES SURE THAT PATIENTS ARE ASSISTED IN OBTAINING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FROM PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY FUNDED SOURCES, WHENEVER POSSIBLE. ALL PATIENT BUSINESS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVES ARE EDUCATED ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY AND ARE EXPECTED TO ADMINISTER THE POLICY ON A REGULAR AND CONSISTENT BASIS. PATIENT BUSINESS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO TREAT ALL PATIENTS WITH COURTESY, RESPECT, CONFIDENTIALITY AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY. THE CREDIT AND COLLECTION POLICY IS ADMINISTERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES. THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE HAVE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CREDIT AND COLLECTION ACTIVITIES OF THE HOSPITAL. THE BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGEMENT STAFF IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY ENFORCEMENT OF APPROVED POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK MAY OFFER EXTENDED PAYMENT PLANS TO PATIENTS WHO ARE COOPERATING IN GOOD FAITH TO RESOLVE THEIR HOSPITAL BILLS. EMERGENCY & MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES ---------------------------------------- ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ANY ACTIONS THAT DISCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS FROM SEEKING EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE. THE ORGANIZATION WILL NEVER DEMAND THAT AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PATIENT PAY BEFORE RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CONDITIONS. ADDITIONALLY, ST. LUKE'S DOES NOT PERMIT DEBT COLLECTION ACTIVITIES IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OR OTHER AREAS WHERE SUCH ACTIVITIES COULD INTERFERE WITH THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY CARE ON A NONDISCRIMINATORY BASIS. ALL MEDICALLY NECESSARY HOSPITAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF ABILITY TO PAY AND ARE NOT DELAYED PENDING APPLICATION OR APPROVAL OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR THE ST. LUKE'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. ADVANCE PAYMENT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR ANY MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES. COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(R)(6) ------------------------------------------------------- ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK DOES NOT ENGAGE IN ANY EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION ACTIONS (""ECAS"") AS DEFINED BY INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(R)(6) PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE NOTIFICATION PERIOD. THE NOTIFICATION PERIOD IS DEFINED AS A 120-DAY PERIOD OR GREATER, WHICH BEGINS ON THE DATE OF THE 1ST POST-DISCHARGE BILLING STATEMENT, IN WHICH NO ECAS ARE INITIATED AGAINST THE PATIENT. SUBSEQUENT TO THE NOTIFICATION PERIOD ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK, OR ANY THIRD PARTIES ACTING ON ITS BEHALF, MAY INITIATE THE FOLLOWING ECAS AGAINST A PATIENT FOR AN UNPAID BALANCE IF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION HAS NOT BEEN MADE OR IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS INELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK MAY AUTHORIZE THIRD PARTIES TO REPORT ADVERSE INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL TO CONSUMER CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES OR CREDIT BUREAUS ON DELINQUENT PATIENT ACCOUNTS AFTER THE NOTIFICATION PERIOD. THE ORGANIZATION ENSURES REASONABLE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO DETERMINE WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL IS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY AND ENSURES THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS ARE TAKEN AT LEAST 30 DAYS PRIOR TO INITIATING ANY ECA: 1) THE PATIENT IS PROVIDED WITH WRITTEN NOTICE WHICH: - INDICATES THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE PATIENTS; - IDENTIFIES THE ECA(S) THAT ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK INTENDS TO INITIATE TO OBTAIN PAYMENT FOR THE CARE; AND - STATES A DEADLINE AFTER WHICH SUCH ECAS MAY BE INITIATED. 2) THE PATIENT IS PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THE PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY; AND 3) REASONABLE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO ORALLY NOTIFY THE PATIENT ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND HOW THE INDIVIDUAL MAY OBTAIN ASSISTANCE WITH THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION PROCESS. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK ACCEPTS AND PROCESSES ALL APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SUBMITTED DURING THE APPLICATION PERIOD. THE APPLICATION PERIOD BEGINS ON THE DATE THE CARE IS PROVIDED AND ENDS ON THE 240TH DAY AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST POST-DISCHARGE BILLING STATEMENT."
SCHEDULE H, PART VI; QUESTION 2 ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK'S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE OVERSEES ASSESSMENT OF THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY HOSPITALS WITHIN THE NETWORK. THE DEPARTMENT IS CHAIRED BY DR. BONNIE COYLE, BOARD CERTIFIED IN PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE, WITH OVER 20 YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AND PREVENTATIVE HEALTH. ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ONGOING HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS: VITAL STATISTICS, PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DATA, HOSPITAL DISCHARGE DATA, THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH PROFILES AND OTHER COUNTY DATA AVAILABLE FROM VARIOUS OTHER STATE AGENCIES. IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT COLLECTS ONGOING DATA AND OUTCOMES FROM ITS COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES AND FROM ESTABLISHED COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS. A NUMBER OF OUR CHNA DETERMINED HEALTH PRIORITIES ARE ADDRESSED AMONG OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS USING THE ADOPT A SCHOOL MODEL. THE MISSION OF THE ADOPT A SCHOOL MODEL IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE PANTHER VALLEY AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE HUB TO CULTIVATE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, USING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS, TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO HEALTH SERVICES (MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION, MENTAL HEALTH AND INSURANCE) WHILE PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING INITIATIVES, LITERACY AND LEADERSHIP TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES OF STUDENTS. BASED ON THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS AND PRIORITIES, EACH HOSPITAL CAMPUS DEVELOPS PLANS AND PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THOSE IN THE COMMUNITIES. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP EFFORTS AND INITIATIVES, WE PROVIDE MOBILE YOUTH HEALTH SERVICES (CONNECTING STUDENTS TO MEDICAL, DENTAL & VISION VANS, INSURANCE, PHYSICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS AND SERVICES), HEALTHY LIVING INITIATIVES (GET YOUR TAIL ON THE TRAIL, LIVE YOUR LIFE, SCHOOL GARDENS AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS), LITERACY PROGRAMS (DR. SEUSS DAY, READING ROCKS! AND LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES), AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (LEADER IN ME AND ADOLESCENT CAREER MENTORING). OUR INITIATIVES ARE CONTINUALLY ASSESSED AND EVALUATED TO PROVIDE MEASURABLE AND EFFECTIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES. LOCAL SCHOOL COORDINATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP COMMITTEES ASSESS, EVALUATE AND GUIDE THE INITIATIVES THAT FEED INTO THE ST. LUKES ADOPT A SCHOOL MODEL USING EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS/SERVICES.
SCHEDULE H, PART VI; QUESTION 3 "ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK IS COMMITTED TO A SERVICE EXCELLENCE PHILOSOPHY THAT STRIVES TO MEET OR EXCEED PATIENT EXPECTATIONS. ALL PATIENTS WILL RECEIVE A UNIFORM STANDARD OF CARE THROUGHOUT ALL ST. LUKE'S FACILITIES, REGARDLESS OF SOCIAL, CULTURAL, FINANCIAL, RELIGIOUS, RACIAL, GENDER OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION FACTORS. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT ALL PATIENTS RECEIVE ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY AND OTHER MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS WHO HAVE HEALTHCARE NEEDS AND ARE UNINSURED, INELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, OR OTHERWISE UNABLE TO PAY, FOR MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL FINANCIAL SITUATION. ALL PERSONS WHO PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR EMERGENCY OR OTHER MEDICALLY NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES ARE ADMITTED AND TREATED; THEY ARE REGISTERED AS PATIENTS OF THE HOSPITAL AND RECEIVE ANY NECESSARY SERVICES AS PRESCRIBED BY THE PATIENT'S PHYSICIAN. A PROSPECTIVE PATIENT OF ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK IS NEVER DENIED NECESSARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES ON THE BASIS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK DOES ITS BEST TO EDUCATE AND INFORM PATIENTS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PATIENTS, THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION AND PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY ARE ALL AVAILABLE ON-LINE. ADDITIONALLY, PAPER COPIES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST WITHOUT CHARGE BY MAIL AND ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE HOSPITAL FACILITY REGISTRATION AREAS. THESE INCLUDE EMERGENCY ROOMS, ADMITTING AND REGISTRATION DEPARTMENTS, HOSPITAL BASED CLINICS AND PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES. THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION AND PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY ARE AVAILABLE IN ENGLSH AND IN THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF POPULATIONS WITH LIMITED PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH (""LEP"") THAT CONSTITUTES THE LESSER OF 1,000 INDIVIDUALS OR 5% OF THE NETWORK'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREA. SIGNS OR DISPLAYS ARE CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED IN PUBLIC HOSPITAL LOCATIONS INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, ADMISSIONS DEPARTMENT AND REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT THAT NOTIFY AND INFORM PATIENTS ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THROUGH ITS COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, ST. LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK ALSO MAKES REASONABLE EFFORTS TO INFORM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REFERALS CAN BE MADE BY A MEMBER OF THE HOSPITAL STAFF OR MEDICAL STAFF, INCLUDING PHYSICIANS, NURSES, FINANCIAL COUNSELORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, CASE MANAGERS, CHAPLAINS AND RELIGIOUS SPONSORS. ALL PATIENTS ARE OFFERED A COPY OF THE PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY AS PART OF THE INTAKE OR DISCHARGE PROCESS. ADDITIONALY, FINANCIAL COUNSELORS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST PATIENTS WITH QUESTIONS CONCERNING CHARGES, PAYMENTS OR ANY OTHER CONCERNS."
SCHEDULE H, PART VI; QUESTION 4 THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS IS INCLUDED WITHIN ITS MOST RECENTLY CONDUCTED CHNA. GEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF MEDICAL SERVICE AREA & COMMUNITY SERVED ================================================================= WE DEFINED OUR SERVICE AREA FOR THE CHNA BY DETERMINING THE TOP PATIENT ZIP CODES OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO RECEIVE SERVICES FROM EACH CAMPUS. WE DEFINED THE TOP ZIP CODES AS THOSE THAT MAKE UP 80% OF THE POPULATION SERVED BY THE HOSPITAL CAMPUSES. A TOTAL OF 11 ZIP CODES COMPRISED OF 65,641 PEOPLE LIVE IN THE 349.88 SQUARE MILE REPORT AREA DEFINED FOR THIS ASSESSMENT ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY (2017) 5-YEAR ESTIMATES. THE POPULATION DENSITY FOR THIS AREA, ESTIMATED AT 187.61 PERSONS PER SQUARE MILE, FALLS BETWEEN THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POPULATION DENSITY OF 285.62 PERSONS AND NATIONAL POPULATION DENSITY OF 89.61 PERSONS PER SQUARE MILE. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS, BETWEEN 2000 AND 2010 THE POPULATION IN THE REPORT AREA GREW BY 3,157 PEOPLE, A CHANGE OF 5.43%. THIS PERCENT POPULATION CHANGE IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE POPULATION CHANGE IN PENNSYLVANIA (3.43%), BUT LOWER THAN THE POPULATION CHANGE IN THE U.S. (9.74%). SCHUYLKILL COUNTY ACTUALLY SAW A DECREASE IN POPULATION, REPRESENTING A NEGATIVE CHANGE OF 1.36%. GENDER ====== ACCORDING TO THE FIVE-YEAR ESTIMATES BY THE ACS, THE PERCENTAGE OF FEMALES IN THE ST. LUKE'S MINERS, BLUE MOUNTAIN AND GEISINGER ST LUKE'S SERVICE AREA IS ROUGHLY 51.4%, AND ROUGHLY 48.6% ARE MALE. THIS IS ON PAR WITH NATIONAL TRENDS, WHERE 49.2% OF THE POPULATION IS MALE, AND 50.8% IS FEMALE. AGE === THE ACS REPORTS 20.75% OF THE SERVICE AREA'S POPULATION FALLS UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND 19.21% ARE 65 OR OLDER (FIGURE 3). THIS LEAVES 60.03% BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 64. WHEN COMPARING THESE DATA TO SURVEY DATA, 73.1% OF RESPONDENTS WERE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 64 AND 26.9% OVER THE AGE OF 65. THE SURVEY WAS NOT ADMINISTERED TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18; THEREFORE, THERE ARE NO RESPONSES TO INDICATE THAT AGE RANGE. A LARGE PORTION OF PATIENTS SEEN FELL IN THE 45-64 AGE RANGE, THE 65 AND ABOVE AGE RANGE WAS THE SECOND POPULATION MOST SEEN, WHICH WAS LIKELY BECAUSE THE ELDERLY REPRESENT A VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT TENDS TO UTILIZE HEALTH SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC DISEASE AMONG THIS POPULATION. RACE ==== IN BREAKING DOWN THE ST. LUKE'S MINERS, BLUE MOUNTAIN AND GEISINGER ST. LUKES SERVICE AREA BY RACE, WE CAN SEE THAT MOST INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFY AS WHITE, CONSTITUTING 95.94% OF THE SERVICE AREA, MAKING IT THE LEAST DIVERSE OUT OF ALL ST. LUKE'S SERVICE AREAS. THE SECOND LARGEST POPULATION IDENTIFY AS BLACK, REPRESENTING 1.56% OF THE POPULATION. ABOUT 0.35% IDENTIFY AS ASIAN, 0.19% AS NATIVE AMERICAN OR ALASKAN NATIVE, 0.04% AS NATIVE HAWAIIAN OR PACIFIC ISLANDER, 0.81% AS SOME OTHER RACE, AND 1.12% AS MULTIPLE RACES. THE ST. LUKES 2019 COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY FOUND A SIMILAR PATTERN IN ITS RESPONDENTS WHEN BROKEN DOWN BY RACE. 97.8% OF RESPONDENTS IDENTIFIED AS WHITE AND 1.1% IDENTIFIED AS BLACK. 1.1% OF RESPONDENTS IDENTIFIED THEIR RACE AS ASIAN. ETHNICITY ========= RECENT DATA INDICATE 95.78% OF THE ST. LUKE'S MINERS, BLUE MOUNTAIN AND GEISINGER ST. LUKE'S SERVICE AREA IDENTIFIES THEIR ETHNICITY AS NON-HISPANIC, WITH THE REMAINING 4.22% IDENTIFYING AS HISPANIC/LATINO. THIS BREAKDOWN IS LOWER THAN BOTH THE 17.13% OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE NATION AND 6.38% OF THE STATE IDENTIFYING AS HISPANIC/LATINO. POVERTY ======= THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (FPL) IS $24,600 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR. ROUGHLY 35.61% OF THE ST. LUKES MINERS, BLUE MOUNTAIN AND GEISINGER ST. LUKE'S SERVICE AREA RESIDENTS HAVE INCOMES THAT FALL AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FPL. THIS STATISTIC IS HIGHER THAN BOTH THE 30.6% OF THE STATE AND 34.26% OF THE NATION THAT FALL AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FPL. IN THIS ST. LUKES SERVICE AREA, 49.33% OF CHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY, COMPARED TO 19.07% STATEWIDE AND 21.17% NATIONWIDE.