Community Benefit Insight - Tax-exempt hospital

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Amery Regional Medical Center Inc

Amery Regional Medical Center

265 Griffin Street East
Amery, WI 54001

Bed count	25	Medicare provider number	521308	Member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals	NO	Children's hospital	NO

EIN: 390908320

Display data for year:

Community Benefit Spending- 2021
(as % of functional expenses, which all tax-exempt organizations report on Form 990 Schedule H)

8.37%

Spending by Community Benefit Category- 2021
(as % of total functional expenses)

* = CBI denoted preventative categories

Community Benefit Spending Compared to Functional Expenses, 2010-2021

Additional data

Community Benefit Expenditures: 2021

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.
Amount spent in the following IRS community benefit categories:

Financial Assistance at cost as % of operating expenses	$ 279,576 0.41 %
Medicaid as % of operating expenses	$ 2,219,969 3.29 %
Costs of other means-tested government programs as % of operating expenses	$ 0 0 %
Health professions education as % of operating expenses	$ 278,964 0.41 %
Subsidized health services as % of operating expenses	$ 2,630,389 3.90 %
Research as % of operating expenses	$ 0 0 %
Community health improvement services and community benefit operations* as % of operating expenses Note: these two community benefit categories are reported together on the Schedule H, part I, line 7e.	$ 112,337 0.17 %
Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit* as % of operating expenses	$ 130,611 0.19 %
Community building* as % of operating expenses	$ 0 0 %

* = CBI denoted preventative categories

Community building activities details:

Did tax-exempt hospital report community building activities?	NO
Number of activities or programs (optional)	7
Physical improvements and housing	0
Economic development	1
Community support	0
Environmental improvements	1
Leadership development and training for community members	0
Coalition building	4
Community health improvement advocacy	0
Workforce development	1
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	$ 14,907
Physical improvements and housing	$ 0
Economic development	$ 2,742
Community support	$ 0
Environmental improvements	$ 3,805
Leadership development and training for community members	$ 0
Coalition building	$ 7,416
Community health improvement advocacy	$ 0
Workforce development	$ 944
Other	$ 0

Other Useful Tax-exempt Hospital Information: 2021

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	$ 829,228 1.23 %
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	$ 0 0 %

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:
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.
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.
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.

Community Health Needs Assessment Activities: 2021

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: 2021

This section presents qualitative information submitted by the hospital, verbatim from the 990H record.

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 $ 58209879 including grants of $ 7885) (Revenue $ 69154036)
SEE SCHEDULE O - EXEMPT PURPOSE AND ACHIEVEMENTS FOR A DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Facility Information

Schedule H (Form 990) Section C. Supplemental Information for Part V, Section B.

AMERY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
PART V, SECTION B, LINE 5: TO COMPREHENSIVELY UNDERSTAND AND DESCRIBE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES HEALTHPARTNERS SERVES, WE SYSTEMATICALLY IDENTIFIED A LIST OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA SOURCES AND A LIST OF INTERNALLY AVAILABLE HEALTHPARTNERS DATA SOURCES. WITH THE CHNA WORKGROUP THAT HAD EXPERTISE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTHCARE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY, WE CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE LIST TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES WITH A SPECIFIC LENS TOWARDS INCLUDING MEMBERS WITH UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO NEEDS OF OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE HEALTH AND OTHER DISPARITIES EXIST. TO FURTHER ROUND OUT UNDERSTANDING, WE SOUGHT ADDITIONAL DATA SOURCES TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WHERE OPPORTUNITIES STILL REMAIN FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING DUE TO LACK OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE DATA, WE HAVE NOTED IN THE REPORT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC GAPS IN DATA AVAILABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTEXT AND THE INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURAL RACISM ON THE NEEDS AREAS. THUS, WE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED OUR QUALITATIVE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND OUR QUANTITATIVE HEALTHPARTNERS PROVIDER SURVEYS TO FILL THESE GAPS. HEALTHPARTNERS PROVIDER SURVEYS: SELECT HEALTHPARTNERS STAFF WHO PROVIDE DIRECT CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS WERE INVITED BY HOSPITAL LEADERS AND THE CHNA EXPERT PANEL MEMBERS TO COMPLETE A BRIEF WEB SURVEY ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS THEY SERVE. THE SURVEY WAS DEVELOPED BY AN EXPERT SURVEY METHODOLOGIST WITH INPUT FROM THE CHNA WORKGROUP. OVERALL, 444 PROVIDERS INCLUDING DOCTORS, CARE COORDINATORS, PHARMACISTS, PHYSICAL OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, DIETITIANS, NURSES, AND SOCIAL WORKERS COMPLETED SURVEYS ACROSS ALL HEALTHPARTNERS HOSPITALS. DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS AND A THEMATIC ANALYSIS WERE COMPLETED AND INCLUDED IN THE NEEDS AREA SUMMARIES BELOW.COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: A TOTAL OF 41 COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WERE HELD OR ATTENDED BY HEALTHPARTNERS WORKGROUP MEMBERS. RESULTS WERE SUMMARIZED AND KEY THEMES AND QUOTES WERE ADDED TO THE NEEDS AREA SUMMARIES THROUGHOUT. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE APPENDIX OF THE AMERY'S 2021CHNA AT HTTPS://WWW.HEALTHPARTNERS.COM/CARE/HOSPITALS/AMERY/ABOUT/COMMUNITY

AMERY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
PART V, SECTION B, LINE 6A: HEALTHPARTNERS COLLABORATED ACROSS EIGHT HOSPITALS WITHIN ITS FAMILY OF CARE FOR THE 2021 CHNA: AMERY HOSPITAL & CLINIC (AMERY, WI) HUDSON HOSPITAL & CLINIC (HUDSON, WI) HUTCHINSON HEALTH (HUTCHINSON, MN) LAKEVIEW HOSPITAL (STILLWATER, MN) OLIVIA HOSPITAL AND CLINIC (OLIVIA, MN) PARK NICOLLET HEALTH SERVICES INCLUDING PARK NICOLLET METHODIST HOSPITAL (ST. LOUIS PARK, MN) REGIONS HOSPITAL (ST. PAUL, MN) WESTFIELDS HOSPITAL & CLINIC (NEW RICHMOND, WI)

AMERY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, INC.
PART V, SECTION B, LINE 11: IN 2021, SEVERAL TACTICS WERE IMPLEMENTED TO HELP ADDRESS THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN OUR CHNA AND DESCRIBED IN OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2021 ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS ARE INCLUDED BELOW.ACCESS TO CARE GOAL: IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE THAT IS APPROPRIATE, AFFORDABLE, AND CONVENIENT. -CONTINUED TO INCREASE WEBSITE ACCESS TO PATIENT AND COMMUNITY ACCESS TO HEALTH INFORMATION AND APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING. -IMPROVED GEOGRAPHIC ACCESS OF CARE FOR PATIENTS THROUGH COORDINATION OF APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING BETWEEN FIVE SITES IN THE ST. CROIX VALLEY AREA. -SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED TELEMEDICINE FOR PRIMARY, SPECIALTY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN A VERY SHORT TIME FRAME TO INCREASE ACCESS DURING PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS. ACCESS TO HEALTH GOAL: STRENGTHEN EXISTING AND EXPLORE NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, PROMOTE EARLY CHILDHOOD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.- DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NEW PARTNERSHIPS WERE ESTABLISHED, AND EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS WERE STRENGTHENED TO MEET SHIFTING AND EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS. - UPDATED COMMUNITY RESOURCE LIST TO INCLUDE NEW RESOURCES AND SUPPORT DURING COVID PANDEMIC; AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. - CONTINUED TO SERVE ON CORE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR SUPERSHELF FOOD SHELF TRANSFORMATIONS AND MAKE ADAPTATIONS IN DELIVERY METHODS FOR COVID-19. - DISTRIBUTED BOOKS TO CHILDREN IN CLINICS THROUGH REACH OUT AND READ. LITTLE MOMENTS COUNT OFFERED VIRTUAL TRAINING AND RESOURCES TO CONTINUE MOMENTUM OF COLLABORATION TO PROMOTE EARLY CHILDHOOD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. - INCREASED RECYCLING AND PURCHASES OF SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED AND LOCAL FOODS AND BEVERAGES. - REDUCED WASTE TO LANDFILLS, MEAT PURCHASES, SINGLE USE PLASTIC BOTTLES, ELECTRICITY, NATURAL GAS AND WATER USE AND TOTAL GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS. INCREASED USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERRED AND RECYCLED PAPER AND OFFICE SUPPLIES. MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING GOAL: REDUCE THE STIGMA SURROUNDING MENTAL ILLNESS, INCREASE ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND RESOURCES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.IN 2021, THE REACH OF THE MAKE IT OK CAMPAIGN EXPANDED THROUGH TRAINING LOCAL AMBASSADORS, PROMOTION, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH. DESPITE THE CHALLENGE OF COVID-19, MAKE IT OK MADE PROGRESS IN REDUCING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS WITH THE FOLLOWING IMPACT: - RECEIVED 81,349 WEBSITE VISITS WITH 62,780 UNIQUE VISITORS IN 2021. THE MAKE IT OK TOOLS AND RESOURCES WERE DOWNLOADED MORE THAN 500 TIMES BY PEOPLE IN 250 US CITIES AND 25 MINNESOTA COUNTIES. - HELD 11 AMBASSADOR TRAININGS BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY, MOBILIZING AN ADDITIONAL 200 AMBASSADORS. - REACHED MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE THROUGH COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, EVENTS AND TABLING. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED INCREASED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND GREATER CONFIDENCE IN TALKING ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AS A RESULT OF THE PRESENTATIONS. -MORE THAN 500 AMBASSADORS ARE NOW TRAINED IN THE ST. CROIX VALLEY AREA. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTED INCREASED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND GREATER CONFIDENCE IN TALKING ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AS A RESULT OF THE PRESENTATIONS. -OFFERED BEATING THE BLUES AND RESILIENCY RESOURCES AT NO CHARGE TO MEMBERS, PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES PROMOTED AS KEY PART OF EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING PROGRAM. HOSPITAL CONVENES AND PARTICIPATES IN MULTIPLE COLLABORATIVES FOCUSING ON MENTAL HEALTH. - INCREASED VALLEY-WIDE USE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TELEHEALTH (BHTV) PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS ACCESSING EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CARE DURING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GOALS: PROMOTE AND SUPPORT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND NUTRITION AND SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE HEALTHY FOOD AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT CHANGE. POWERUP: SINCE 2015, THE HOSPITAL HAS SUPPORTED POWERUP, A COMMUNITYWIDE HEALTH INITIATIVE THAT INSPIRES AND ENGAGES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE BETTER EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES SO YOUTH CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. OUR WORK WITH HUNDREDS OF PARTNERS ACROSS THE REGION HAS RESULTED IN A HIGH LEVEL OF COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT, STRONGER SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICIES AND PRACTICES; MORE FREE AND LOW-COST OPTIONS FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INCLUDING OPEN GYMS; PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE AND LOCAL PARKS; TRANSFORMED FOOD PANTRIES, CAFETERIAS AND CONCESSIONS; AND COMMUNITY MOMENTUM TO CREATE CHANGE. SUBSTANCE USE GOAL: REDUCED OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS, DOSES, AND PATIENTS MEETING CHRONIC OPIOID USE CRITERIA. THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH PHARMACY, PRESCRIBERS AND PAIN CLINICS, ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN OPIOID PRESCRIBING IN OUR CARE SYSTEM AND COMMUNITY. VALLEY-WIDE, SINCE 2016, THERE HAS BEEN A 68% AND 52% REDUCTION IN OPIOIDS PRESCRIBED AT DISCHARGE IN HOSPITALS AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, RESPECTIVELY.

PART V, SECTION B, LINE 3E
AMERY ADDRESSES THE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR CHNA.

SCHEDULE H, PART V, LINE 20A
AMERY DOES NOT PERFORM ANY ECAS (EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION ACTIONS), THEREFORE WE WOULD NOT GIVE A PATIENT A WRITTEN NOTICE OF DOING SO.

Supplemental Information

Schedule H (Form 990) Part VI

PART I, LINE 7:
AMERY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (AMERY) USES THE COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO METHOD WHEN CALCULATING THE AMOUNTS REPORTED ON PART I. LINE 7. THE COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO WAS DERIVED USING WORKSHEET 2, RATIO OF PATIENT CARE-COST-TO-CHARGE, FROM THE SCHEDULE H INSTRUCTIONS

PART III, LINE 2:
AMERY USES THE COST TO CHARGE METHODOLOGY TO DETERMINE AMOUNT REPORTED AS BAD DEBT. AMERY BELIEVES THAT MANY OF THE ACCOUNTS IN BAD DEBT WOULD HAVE QUALIFIED FOR CHARITY IF THE GUARANTORS WOULD HAVE COMPLETED THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PAPERWORK. AMERY IS PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS/FAMILIES IN ITS SERVICE AREA THAT ARE UNABLE/UNWILLING TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES. THIS IS COMPARABLE TO PROVIDING CHARITY CARE WHICH AMERY ALSO INCLUDES AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT.

PART III, LINE 4:
SEE THE ORGANIZATION'S FOOTNOTES 1.O AND 1.Q, ON PAGE 25 OF THE ATTACHED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

PART III, LINE 8:
AMERYS MEDICARE COST IS DERIVED BASED ON THE RATIO OF MEDICARE FFS CHARGES TO TOTAL CHARGES MULTIPLIED BY TOTAL EXPENSES (LESS CHARITY CARE & BAD DEBT). NONE OF THE MEDICARE FFS LOSS REPORTED ON SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 7 IS TREATED AS COMMUNITY BENEFIT ON SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7A.

PART III, LINE 9B:
COLLECTIONS PRACTICESAMERY'S DEBT COLLECTION POLICY CONTAINS PROVISIONS ON COLLECTION PRACTICES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CHARITY CARE OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. AMERY WILL NOT REFER ANY ACCOUNT TO A THIRD PARTY DEBT COLLECTION AGENCY UNLESS IT HAS CONFIRMED THAT:- THERE IS REASONABLE BASIS TO BELIEVE THAT THE PATIENT OWES THE DEBT.- ALL KNOWN THIRD-PARTY PAYERS HAVE BEEN PROPERLY BILLED, AND THE PATIENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMAINING DEBT.- IF THE PATIENT HAS INDICATED AN INABILITY TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT, THE PATIENT HAS BEEN OFFERED A REASONABLE PAYMENT PLAN. AMERY WILL NOT REFER PATIENTS TO DEBT COLLECTION AGENCIES WHO ARE PERFORMING AS SPECIFIED IN THEIR PAYMENT PLANS.- THE PATIENT HAS BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A CHARITY CARE (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE) APPLICATION. IF THE PATIENT HAS SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR CHARITY CARE, ALL COLLECTION ACTIVITY WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PROCESSED.

PART VI, LINE 2:
TO COMPREHENSIVELY UNDERSTAND AND DESCRIBE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES HEALTHPARTNERS SERVES, WE SYSTEMATICALLY IDENTIFIED A LIST OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA SOURCES AND A LIST OF INTERNALLY AVAILABLE HEALTHPARTNERS DATA SOURCES. WITH THE CHNA WORKGROUP THAT HAD EXPERTISE FROM PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTHCARE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY, WE CAREFULLY REVIEWED THE LIST TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES WITH A SPECIFIC LENS TOWARDS INCLUDING MEMBERS WITH UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO NEEDS OF OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHERE HEALTH AND OTHER DISPARITIES EXIST. TO FURTHER ROUND OUT UNDERSTANDING, WE SOUGHT ADDITIONAL DATA SOURCES TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WHERE OPPORTUNITIES STILL REMAIN FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING DUE TO LACK OF CURRENTLY AVAILABLE DATA, WE HAVE NOTED IN THE REPORT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC GAPS IN DATA AVAILABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTEXT AND THE INFLUENCE OF STRUCTURAL RACISM ON THE NEEDS AREAS. THUS, WE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED OUR QUALITATIVE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND OUR QUANTITATIVE HEALTHPARTNERS PROVIDER SURVEYS TO FILL THESE GAPS. HEALTHPARTNERS PROVIDER SURVEYS: SELECT HEALTHPARTNERS STAFF WHO PROVIDE DIRECT CARE FOR OUR PATIENTS WERE INVITED BY HOSPITAL LEADERS AND THE CHNA EXPERT PANEL MEMBERS TO COMPLETE A BRIEF WEB SURVEY ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS THEY SERVE. THE SURVEY WAS DEVELOPED BY AN EXPERT SURVEY METHODOLOGIST WITH INPUT FROM THE CHNA WORKGROUP. OVERALL, 444 PROVIDERS INCLUDING DOCTORS, CARE COORDINATORS, PHARMACISTS, PHYSICAL OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, DIETITIANS, NURSES, AND SOCIAL WORKERS COMPLETED SURVEYS ACROSS ALL HEALTHPARTNERS HOSPITALS. DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS AND A THEMATIC ANALYSIS WERE COMPLETED AND INCLUDED IN THE NEEDS AREA SUMMARIES BELOW.COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: A TOTAL OF 41 COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WERE HELD OR ATTENDED BY HEALTHPARTNERS WORKGROUP MEMBERS. RESULTS WERE SUMMARIZED AND KEY THEMES AND QUOTES WERE ADDED TO THE NEEDS AREA SUMMARIES THROUGHOUT. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE APPENDIX OF THE AMERY'S 2021CHNA AT HTTPS://WWW.HEALTHPARTNERS.COM/CARE/HOSPITALS/AMERY/ABOUT/COMMUNITY

PART VI, LINE 3:
AMERY'S PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WORKS WITH EACH PATIENT REGARDING ACCOUNT BALANCES LEFT TO PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY. PATIENTS WHO ARE NOT ALREADY ON GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE OR HAVE LIMITED ASSISTANCE ARE REFERRED TO AMERY'S HEALTH BENEFITS COUNSELOR, WHO WORKS WITH THEM TO EVALUATE ASSISTANCE OPTIONS AND ASSISTS IN GETTING APPLICATIONS OR CONTACTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS. IF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED, THE COUNSELOR WILL WORK WITH THE PATIENT TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WITH AMERY AND HELPS THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND APPLICATION ARE LOCATED ON AMERY'S INTERNET SITE TO ALLOW PATIENTS DIRECT ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.

PART VI, LINE 4:
THE AMERY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (AMERY) SERVICE AREA INCLUDED 15 DIFFERENT ZIP CODES IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN THAT PRIMARILY REPRESENT POLK COUNTY. IT INCLUDES THREE RURAL HEALTH CLINICS IN LUCK, TURTLE LAKE, AND CLEAR LAKE, WHICH ARE ALL MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS. THE AMERY COMMUNITY IS ALSO CONSIDERED A MENTAL HEALTH MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA. THE WOUND CENTER & INPATIENT PSYCH SERVICE DRAWS FROM OUTSIDE AMERY'S NORMAL SERVICE AREA.

PART VI, LINE 5:
TEN OF AMERY'S THIRTEEN BOARD MEMBERS LIVE IN AMERY'S SERVICE AREA. AMERY HAS AN OPEN MEDICAL STAFF WHICH INCLUDES PROVIDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS THE TWIN CITIES. ANY SURPLUS FUNDS GENERATED ARE USED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, BUILD NEW FACILITIES, AND EXPAND SERVICES AVAILABLE IN AMERY'S COMMUNITY.

PART VI, LINE 7, REPORTS FILED WITH STATES
WI

PART VI, LINE 6:
HEALTHPARTNERS AND AMERY HAVE HAD A LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIP, WITH HEALTHPARTNERS EMPLOYING AND SOURCING PHYSICIANS AND MID-LEVEL PRACTITIONERS TO AMERY FOR AMERY'S PRIMARY CARE CLINICS. IN 2014, AMERY BECAME PART OF THE HEALTHPARTNERS FAMILY OF MISSION-DRIVEN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. AS PART OF HEALTHPARTNERS, AMERY USES HEALTHPARTNERS' INTEGRATED ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM, PARTICIPATES IN COORDINATED CHNA PROCESSES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES, AND ACCESSES CENTRALIZED SUPPORT SERVICES IN FINANCE, LEGAL, IS&T, AND QUALITY. THE FOUR HEALTHPARTNERS HOSPITALS IN THE ST. CROIX VALLEY - STILLWATER MN AND HUDSON, NEW RICHMOND, AND AMERY WI - WORK TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH ACCESSIBLE AND COORDINATED SPECIALTY SERVICES FOR VALLEY RESIDENTS. EXAMPLES OF THESE SERVICES INCLUDE RADIATION THERAPY ON THE NEW RICHMOND CAMPUS, BREAST DIAGNOSTICS ON THE STILLWATER CAMPUS, AND GERIATRIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ON THE ARMC CAMPUS. HEALTHPARTNERS INCLUDES INSURANCE AND HMO (HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION) ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE CARE COORDINATION, DISEASE MANAGEMENT, ON-LINE CARE OF BASIC CONDITIONS, A 24-HOUR/7-DAY PER WEEK NURSE LINE, AND OTHER SERVICES THAT ENHANCE CARE OF MEMBERS, PATIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.

Operating expenses	$ 67,519,447
Total amount spent on community benefits as % of operating expenses	$ 5,651,846 8.37 %