Community Benefit Insight - Tax-exempt hospital

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Valley Hospital Association Inc Dba Mat-su Health Foundation

Mat-Su Regional Med Ctr

2500 S Woodworth Loop
Palmer, AK 99645

Bed count	74	Medicare provider number	020006	Member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals	NO	Children's hospital	NO

EIN: 920019395

Display data for year:

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

28.47%

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	$ 1,085,833 4.85 %
Medicaid as % of operating expenses	$ 5,292,301 23.63 %
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	$ 0 0 %
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.	$ 0 0 %
Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit* as % of operating expenses	$ 0 0 %
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: 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	$ 1,143,809 5.11 %
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	$ 34,314 3.00 %

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 $ 18987520 including grants of $ 13024317) (Revenue $ 0)
THE REPORTING ORGANIZATION INCREASES ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY SUPPORTS AND PREVENTION ACTIVITIES THROUGH BOTH THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES AND GRANTS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS FURTHERING THE PURPOSE OF IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF MATANUSKA-SUSITNA RESIDENTS.

4B (Expenses $ 0 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 44938930)
INVESTMENT IN MAT-SU VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, LLC, JOINT VENTURE.

Facility Information

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

MAT-SU VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
PART V, SECTION B, LINE 3J: INFORMATION GAPS THAT LIMIT THE HOSPITAL FACILITY'S ABILITY TO ASSESS THE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH NEEDS.

MAT-SU VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
PART V, SECTION B, LINE 5: THE REPORTING ORGANIZATION FORMED A STEERING COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS HOSPITALS, NON-PROFIT LEADERS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, ETC. THE STEERING COMMITTEE ACTED AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE REPORTING ORGANIZATION, WITH THE MISSION OF ENSURING THAT THE REPORTING ORGANIZATION WAS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INPUT FROM PERSONS WHO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY. THE REPORTING ORGANIZATION HIRED A CONSULTING FIRM TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY FORUMS FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY. EACH SECTOR RESPONDED WITH ITS OWN OPINIONS ON WHAT AREAS OF HEALTH THE COMMUNITY LACKED OR EXCELLED IN.

MAT-SU VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
PART V, SECTION B, LINE 6A: PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL

MAT-SU VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER
PART V, SECTION B, LINE 6B: AK MENTAL HEALTH TRUST AUTHORITY, CHICKALOON TRIBE, DENALI COMMISSION, KNIK TRIBAL COUNCIL, MAT-SU BOROUGH PLANNING DEPARTMENT, MAT-SU HEALTH FOUNDATION, MAT-SU BOROUGH EMERGENCY SERVICES, MAT-SU BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, MAT-SU REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, MAT-SU HEALTH SERVICES, PALMER 7TH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH, PROVIDENCE HEALTH & SERVICES ALASKA, RASMUSON FOUNDATION, AK DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, SOUTHCENTRAL FOUNDATION, SUNSHINE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, UPPER SUSITNA SENIOR CENTER, UNITED WAY OF MAT-SU AND VALLEY CHARITIES.

Supplemental Information

Schedule H (Form 990) Part VI

PART I, LINE 7: EXPLANATION OF COSTING METHODOLOGY
THE REPORTING ORGANIZATION UTILIZES THE COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO FOR AMOUNTS REPORTED IN THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS AT COST TABLE. THE COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO WAS DERIVED FROM UTILIZING WORKSHEET 2, RATIO OF PATIENT CARE COST TO CHARGES, FROM THE SCHEDULE H INSTRUCTIONS.

PART III, LINE 2:
BAD DEBT WAS CALCULATED BY TAKING CURRENT YEAR JOINT VENTURE BAD DEBT, MULTIPLIED BY THE ENTITY'S OWNERSHIP PERCENTAGE AND THEN MULTIPLIED BY THE COST RATIO DERIVED IN WORKSHEET 2 OF THE SCHEDULE H INSTRUCTIONS.

PART III, LINE 3:
SIGNIFICANT EFFORT IS MADE ON THE HOSPITAL'S PART TO IDENTIFY ALL PATIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BEFORE AND/OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER A PATIENT IS PROVIDED SERVICES. BECAUSE OF THESE EFFORTS AND THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DETERMINATIONS POLICY, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN 3% OF BAD DEBTS ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENTS ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY.

PART III, LINE 4:
RELEVANT FOOTNOTE FROM AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE RECORDED AT NET REALIZABLE VALUE BASED ON CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS DETERMINED BY EACH PAYOR. FOR THIRD-PARTY PAYORS INCLUDING MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MANAGED CARE, THE NET REALIZABLE VALUE IS BASED ON THE ESTIMATED CONTRACTUAL REIMBURSEMENT PERCENTAGE, WHICH IS BASED ON CURRENT CONTRACT PRICES OR HISTORICAL PAID CLAIMS DATA BY PAYOR. FOR SELF-PAY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, WHICH INCLUDES PATIENTS WHO ARE UNINSURED AND THE PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY PORTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH INSURANCE, THE NET REALIZABLE VALUE IS DETERMINED USING ESTIMATES OF HISTORICAL COLLECTION EXPERIENCE WITHOUT REGARD TO AGING CATEGORY. THESE ESTIMATES ARE ADJUSTED FOR ESTIMATED CONVERSIONS OF PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY PORTIONS, EXPECTED RECOVERIES AND ANY ANTICIPATED CHANGES IN TRENDS.PATIENT ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CAN BE IMPACTED BY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMPANY'S COLLECTION EFFORTS. ADDITIONALLY, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN PAYOR MIX, BUSINESS OFFICE OPERATIONS, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OR TRENDS IN FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTAL HEALTHCARE COVERAGE COULD AFFECT THE NET REALIZABLE VALUE OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. THE COMPANY ALSO CONTINUALLY REVIEWS THE NET REALIZABLE VALUE OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BY MONITORING HISTORICAL CASH COLLECTIONS AS A PERCENTAGE OF TRAILING NET OPERATING REVENUES, AS WELL AS BY ANALYZING CURRENT PERIOD NET REVENUE AND ADMISSIONS BY PAYOR CLASSIFICATIONS, AGED ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BY PAYOR, DAYS REVENUE OUTSTANDING, AND THE COMPOSITION OF SELFPAY RECEIVABLES BETWEEN PURE SELF-PAY PATIENTS AND THE PATIENT RESPONSIBILITY PORTION OF THIRD-PARTY INSURED RECEIVABLES. ADJUSTMENTS RELATED TO FINAL SETTLEMENTS FOR SOME PAYORS AND PROGRAMS ARE SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT BASED ON ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND AUDIT BY THIRD PARTIES. AS A RESULT OF THESE FINAL SETTLEMENTS, THE COMPANY HAS RECORDED NET AMOUNTS DUE FROM THIRD-PARTY PAYORS OF APPROXIMATELY $476,000 AND $462,000 AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020, AND THESE AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED IN CURRENT ASSETS ON THE ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS. SUBSTANTIALLY ALL MEDICARE AND MEDICAID COST REPORTS ARE FINAL SETTLED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2018. SERVICES PROVIDED, WITH A REDUCTION RECORDED FOR PRICE CONCESSIONS RELATED TO THIRD PARTY CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AS WELL AS PATIENT DISCOUNTS AND OTHER IMPLICIT PATIENT PRICE CONCESSIONS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, THE IMPACT OF CHANGES TO THE INPUTS USED TO DETERMINE THE TRANSACTION PRICE WAS CONSIDERED IMMATERIAL TO THE CURRENT PERIOD.

PART III, LINE 8:
MEDICARE ALLOWABLE COSTS WERE COMPUTED UTILIZING COST TO CHARGE RATIOS FROM FILED COSTS REPORTS.

PART III, LINE 9B:
SIGNIFICANT EFFORT IS MADE ON THE HOSPITAL'S PART TO IDENTIFY ALL PATIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BEFORE AND/OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER A PATIENT IS PROVIDED SERVICES. BECAUSE OF THESE EFFORTS AND THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT LESS THAN 3% OF BAD DEBTS ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENTS ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY.

PART VI, LINE 2:
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR HOSPITAL BOARD VOLUNTEERS, STAFF AND MANAGERS TRACK INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT VOLUMES, OUTMIGRATION, TRENDS IN DIAGNOSIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS TO INCLUDE WEATHER, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL INDICATORS. TYPICALLY DURING THE LAST QUARTER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, HOSPITAL LEADERS EVALUATE THE PAST MONTHS AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. SHORT AND LONG-TERM DECISIONS ARE BASED ON THESE EVALUATIONS AS WELL AS ON A VARIETY OF PLANNING MODELS RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (AMA). IN ADDITION TO DATA GATHERED THROUGH THESE SOURCES, ADDITIONAL ANECDOTAL INFORMATION, EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE SHARED FROM STAKEHOLDERS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTH REPORTS, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) DATA, AND ECONOMIC FORECASTS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND AREA EMPLOYERS ARE USED TO STRATEGICALLY PLAN TO MEET THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

PART VI, LINE 5:
IMPROVING THE HEALTH STATUS OF OUR COMMUNITY IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL FOR THE HOSPITAL AND MAINTAINING RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS IS INTEGRAL TO SUCCESS IN THESE EFFORTS. THE HOSPITAL SPONSORS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SENIOR CIRCLE FOR MATURE ADULTS, HEALTH FAIRS, EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS PRESENTED BY EMPLOYED AND COMMUNITY PHYSICIANS, FREE HEALTHY WOMAN PROGRAMS AND ALSO PARTNERS WITH LOCAL EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES TO OFFER CLINICAL SITES FOR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. MEMBERS OF THE HOSPITAL STAFF ALSO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP AND CLINICAL EDUCATION.

PART VI, LINE 6:
N/A

PART VI, LINE 7:
N/A

PART VI, LINE 3:
THE HOSPITAL MAINTAINS POSTED SIGNS IN ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABILITY AND CRITERIA FOR PATIENTS IN EACH ADMITTING OFFICE AND IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT LOBBY. THE HOSPITAL ALSO POSTS INFORMATION REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ON THE HOSPITAL'S WEBSITE. ALL INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENTS ARE OFFERED A FORM UPON ADMISSION THAT FORMALLY NOTIFIES THEM THAT THE HOSPITAL HAS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE IF THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, INCLUDING COMPLETION OF A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION. ADMITTING STAFF SCREEN ALL SELF-PAY PATIENTS FOR POTENTIAL MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AS WELL AS COVERAGE BY OTHER SOURCES, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS. DURING THIS PROCESS, ADMITTING STAFF WILL ALSO MAKE AVAILABLE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION TO THE PATIENT. HOSPITAL STAFF DO MAKE FOLLOW UP CALLS TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS TO ENCOURAGE COMPLETION OF THE APPLICATION.

PART VI, LINE 4:
THE HOSPITAL IS LOCATED IN THE MAT-SU BOROUGH OF ALASKA, NORTHEAST OF ANCHORAGE, AND SERVES OVER 27 COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE CITIES PALMER, WASILLA, AND HOUSTON. THE HOSPITAL SERVES COMMUNITIES THAT ENCOMPASS OVER 24,000 SQUARE MILES OF LAND, WITH THE MOST DISTANT COMMUNITIES 55 TO 75 MILES NORTH OF WASILLA. IN 2018, THE MAT-SU BOROUGH HAD A POPULATION OF 105,743, REPRESENTING 14% OF ALASKA'S TOTAL POPULATION.IN 2017, THE PERCENTAGES OF MAT-SU PERSONS EXPERIENCING POVERTY WERE 14% CHILDREN, 12% INDIVIDUALS, AND 9% FAMILIES. APPROXIMATELY 92% OF RESIDENTS HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR AN EQUIVALENT BY AGE 25, AND 22% HAVE EARNED A COLLEGE DEGREE. THE MEDIAN AGE OF A MAT-SU RESIDENT IS 35.2 YEARS OLD. THE POPULATION AGE 19 AND UNDER REPRESENTS 27% OF MAT-SU'S TOTAL POPULATION AS OF 2018. THE POPULATION AGE 65 AND OLDER REPRESENTS 12% OF THE MAT-SU'S TOTAL POPULATION AS OF 2018.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
"BESIDES PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THOSE UNABLE TO PAY, AND ACCEPTING MEDICAID AND MEDICARE PATIENTS, THE VALLEY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION ALSO FURTHERS ITS EXEMPT PURPOSE BY SEATING ONE HALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE JOINT VENTURE HOSPITAL WITH PERSONS WHO RESIDE IN THE HOSPITAL'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREA. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NEITHER EMPLOYEES NOR CONTRACTORS OF THE ORGANIZATION NOR FAMILY MEMBERS THEREOF. THE HOSPITAL ALSO SEATS AN ADDITIONAL ""BOARD OF TRUSTEES"" WITH FIVE MEMBERS OF THE HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF AND FIVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO INFORM THE GOVERNING BODY ON ISSUES RELATED TO SERVICE, QUALITY, RISK AND COMPLIANCE. THE HOSPITAL ALSO MAINTAINS AN OPEN MEDICAL STAFF BY EXTENDING MEDICAL STAFF PRIVILEGES TO ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY. IMPROVING THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE COMMUNITY IS AN IMPORTANT GOAL FOR THE HOSPITAL, AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS IS INTEGRAL TO SUCCESS IN THESE EFFORTS."

Operating expenses	$ 22,399,587
Total amount spent on community benefits as % of operating expenses	$ 6,378,134 28.47 %