Community Benefit Insight - Tax-exempt hospital

View data for this organization below, or select additional hospitals to create a comparison view.

Search tax-exempt hospitals
for comparison purposes.

Upson County Hospital Inc

Upson Regional Medical Center

801 West Gordon Street
Thomaston, GA 30286

Bed count	119	Medicare provider number	110002	Member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals	NO	Children's hospital	NO

EIN: 581734026

Display data for year:

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

12.59%

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	$ 3,614,623 3.28 %
Medicaid as % of operating expenses	$ 1,541,963 1.40 %
Costs of other means-tested government programs as % of operating expenses	$ 59,063 0.05 %
Health professions education as % of operating expenses	$ 240,448 0.22 %
Subsidized health services as % of operating expenses	$ 8,408,851 7.63 %
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.	$ 8,867 0.01 %
Cash and in-kind contributions for community benefit* as % of operating expenses	$ 0 0 %
Community building* as % of operating expenses	$ 366,555 0.33 %

* = CBI denoted preventative categories

Community building activities details:

Did tax-exempt hospital report community building activities?	YES
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	$ 366,555 0.33 %
Physical improvements and housing as % of community building expenses	$ 0 0 %
Economic development as % of community building expenses	$ 0 0 %
Community support as % of community building expenses	$ 3,000 0.82 %
Environmental improvements as % of community building expenses	$ 0 0 %
Leadership development and training for community members as % of community building expenses	$ 0 0 %
Coalition building as % of community building expenses	$ 0 0 %
Community health improvement advocacy as % of community building expenses	$ 0 0 %
Workforce development as % of community building expenses	$ 363,555 99.18 %
Other as % of community building expenses	$ 0 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	$ 20,266,416 18.39 %
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	$ 10,133,209 50.00 %

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 $ 91862494 including grants of $ 19613) (Revenue $ 0)
UPSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER OFFERS A COMPLETE LINE OF MEDICAL SERVICES INCLUDING 24-HOUR EMERGENCY CENTER, MEDICAL-SURGICAL CARE, OBSTETRICS, PEDIATRICS, WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES, AND MORE. PATIENT DAYS FOR THE YEAR TOTALED 18,226 IN 2021. THE PSYCH UNIT HAD 5,156 VISITS WHILE THE RURAL HEALTH CLINIC EXPERIENCED 4,358 VISITS IN 2021.

4D (Expenses $ 78053 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 0)

Facility Information

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

FACILITY 1, UPSON COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 3E
THE PRIORITIZATION OF SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IS IDENTIFIED AND THE METHODOLOGY FOR PRIORITIZING EACH NEED IS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 39 OF THE 2021 CHNA.

FACILITY 1, UPSON COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 5
UPSON SELECTED A GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREA DEFINITION. THIS DEFINITION WAS BASED UPON THE HOSPITALS PRIMARY SERVICE AREA IN A MANNER THAT INCLUDED THE BROAD INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY SERVED AND INCLUDED MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, LOW-INCOME PERSONS, MINORITY GROUPS, OR THOSE WITH CHRONIC DISEASE NEEDS. UPSON COUNTY WAS SELECTED AS THE COMMUNITY FOR INCLUSION IN THE CHNA. UPSON IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARTNERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES TO INCLUDE IN THE CHNA PROCESS. INDIVIDUALS, AGENCIES, PARTNERS, POTENTIAL PARTNERS, AND OTHERS WERE REQUESTED TO WORK WITH THE HOSPITAL TO 1) ASSESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, 2) REVIEW AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND 3) PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS, WHO REPRESENT MEDICALLY-UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, LOW INCOME POPULATIONS, MINORITY POPULATIONS, AND POPULATIONS WITH CHRONIC DISEASES WERE INCLUDED. COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS (ALSO CALLED KEY INFORMANTS) ARE PEOPLE INVESTED OR INTERESTED IN THE WORK OF THE HOSPITAL, PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH ISSUES, PEOPLE IMPORTANT TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY HOSPITAL COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT OR HEALTH PROJECT, OR ARE FORMAL OR INFORMAL COMMUNITY LEADERS. THE HOSPITAL IDENTIFIED 24 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS.

FACILITY 1, UPSON COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 11
INFORMATION GATHERED FROM COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEYS, STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP TEAM, REVIEW OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH STATUS DATA, AND HOSPITAL UTILIZATION DATA WAS USED TO DETERMINE THE PRIORITY HEALTH NEEDS OF THE POPULATION. URMC PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT OF THE OBSERVATIONS, COMMENTS, AND PRIORITIES RESULTING FROM THE STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM REVIEWED THIS INFORMATION, FOCUSING ON THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS, PRIORITIES, AND CURRENT COMMUNITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE. LEADERSHIP DEBATED THE MERITS AND VALUES OF THESE PRIORITIES, AND CONSIDERED THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MEET THESE NEEDS. FROM THIS INFORMATION AND DISCUSSIONS, THE HOSPITAL DEVELOPED THE PRIORITY NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, EACH OF WHICH ARE ADDRESSED SEPARATELY IN THE HOSPITALS IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY DOCUMENT. BOTH THE 2021 CHNA AND 2022 IMPLMENTATION STRATEGY DOCUMENTS ARE LOCATED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: HTTPS://URMC.ORG/ABOUT/COMMUNITY-HEALTH-NEEDS-ASSESSMENT

FACILITY 1, UPSON COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 15E
INFORMATION IS MAILED TO ALL PATIENTS ON EACH STATEMENT AS LONG AS A BALANCE IS OUTSTANDING. IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE HOSPITAL WEBSITE AND AT ANY ENTRANCE POINT OF THE HOSPITAL.

FACILITY 1, UPSON COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 20E
ECA WILL NOT BEGIN UNTIL AFTER 240 DAYS.

Supplemental Information

Schedule H (Form 990) Part VI

SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7G
SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICE COSTS INCLUDE THOSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO UPSON MEDICAL ASSOCIATES, UPSON WOMEN'S SERVICES, UPSON SURGICAL ASSOCIATES, ORTHOPEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE, AND UPSON FAMILY PHYSICIANS TOTALING 21,740,975. THESE CLINICS PROMOTE HEALTH CARE FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS IN THE AREA.

SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7
"THE DATA REPORTED IN THIS AREA IS REPORTED AS INSTRUCTED BY CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION'S ""A GUIDE FOR PLANNING AND REPORTING COMMUNITY BENEFITS, 2008"". FOR LINE 7A, COSTS WERE CALCULATED USING THE COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO DERIVED FROM WORKSHEET 2 AS PROVIDED IN THE IRS INSTRUCTIONS. SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES PRESENTED ON LINE 7G WERE BASED ON ACTUAL COSTS PER THE MEDICARE COST REPORT NET OF ASSOCIATED BAD DEBT, CHARITY AND MEDICAID EXPENSE. ALL OTHER COSTS PRESENTED IN THE TABLE WERE ACCUMULATED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS SOFTWARE CBISA."

SCHEDULE H, PART II
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS RECRUITMENT AND LOCAL CHAMBER/CIVIC SPONSORSHIPS.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 2
BAD DEBT EXPENSE AMOUNT REPRESENTS THE AMOUNT OF CHARGES CONSIDERED UNCOLLECTIBLE AFTER REASONABLE ATTEMPTS TO COLLECT AND WRITTEN OFF TO BAD DEBT EXPENSE.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 3
THE FIGURE ON PART III LINE 3 REPRESENTS MANAGEMENT'S ESTIMATE (APPROXIMATELY 50%) BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF SELF PAY PATIENTS' ABILITY TO PAY THEIR OUTSTANDING ACCOUNT. THIS ANALYSIS INCLUDES REVIEWING THE PATIENT'S CREDIT HISTORY, INCOME LEVELS AND OVERALL COLLECTIBILITY OF THE ACCOUNT.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 4
THE FOOTNOTE DISCUSSING THE ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS AND BAD DEBTS (IMPLICIT PRICE CONCESSIONS) CAN BE FOUND ON PAGES 12-14 OF THE ATTACHED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 8
MEDICARE COSTS REFLECT ALLOWABLE COSTS PER THE MEDICARE COST REPORT USING ACCEPTABLE ALLOCATIONS OF INDIRECT COSTS BASED ON APPROPRIATE STATISTICS.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 9B
ACCOUNTS KNOWN TO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE WRITTEN OFF TO INDIGENT/CHARITY CARE.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 2
UPSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (URMC) IS A 115-BED NOT-FOR-PROFIT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LOCATED IN THOMASTON. GEORGIA. UPSON COMPLETES A TRIENNIAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT. INFORMATION GATHERED FROM STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, COMMUNITY-WIDE SURVEYS, DISCUSSIONS WITH THE HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP TEAM, REVIEW OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH STATUS, AND HOSPITAL UTILIZATION DATA IS USED TO DETERMINE THE PRIORITY HEALTH NEEDS OF THE POPULATION. THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES WERE IDENTIFIED: 1. MENTAL HEALTH 2. ACCESS TO CARE/OBESITY/EDUCATION 3. SUBSTANCE ABUSE 4. OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASES 5. POVERTY 6. TEEN PREGNANCY

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 3
URMC INFORMS AND EDUCATES THE PATIENTS USING THE FOLLOWING PROCESSES: THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTACT INFORMATION IS POSTED IN THE ADMISSION AREAS, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER AREAS OF THE FACILITY IN WHICH ELIGIBLE PATIENTS ARE PRESENT. A COPY OF THE POLICY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE PATIENTS AS PART OF THE ADMISSION PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE POLICY IS AVAILABLE ON THE HOSPITAL WEBSITE AS IS THE PRINTABLE APPLICATION. A SUMMARY OF THE POLICY IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PATIENT BILLING. WE DISCUSS WITH THE PATIENT THE AVAILABILITY OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT BENEFITS, SUCH AS QUALIFYING FOR MEDICAID OR STATE PROGRAMS AND ASSIST THE PATIENT WITH QUALIFYING FOR SUCH PROGRAMS, WHERE APPLICABLE. WE PROVIDE TRAINING TO THE STAFF ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CONTRACT WITH CHAMBERLON & EDMONDS FOR SCREENING OUR PATIENTS FOR MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND/OR OTHER SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE. WE ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE ADMISSIONS PACKAGE EXPLAINING THE AVAILABILITY, CRITERIA, AND THE PROCESS FOR APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. OUR EFFORTS TO INFORM NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING PATIENTS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY IS PROVIDED BY AN INTERPRETER THROUGH THE USE OF LANGUAGE LINE, A TELEPHONE INTERPRETATION SERVICE.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 4
UPSON COUNTY IS LOCATED IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA AND HAS A POPULATION OF 26,320. THE RACIAL AND ETHNIC MAKEUP OF UPSON COUNTY IS 68% WHITE, 28% BLACK, 1% MIXED RACE, 2% OTHER, AND 2% HISPANIC ORIGIN. THE PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS AGED 55 AND OLDER IS SET TO INCREASE 0.6% BY 2022; THIS IDENTIFIED AN INCREASED NEED FOR DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE THAT SERVES INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC CONDITIONS. URMC, A REGIONAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER WITH 115 ACUTE CARE BEDS, SERVES THIS AREA OF GEORGIA. THE HOSPITAL IS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY SEAT OF THOMASTON.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 5
SINCE 2015, URMC HAS RECRUITED FAMILY PHYSICIANS, A CARDIOLOGIST, UROLOGIST, OBSTETRICIAN, AUDIOLOGIST, ENT, FAMILY PRACTICE, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, AND ADVANCED PRACTICE PROFESSIONALS. URMC'S AWARD-WINNING DIETICIANS IMPLEMENT THE QUARTERLY SODEXO COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, HEALTH FAIRS, AND IN THE WELLNESS CENTER TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF GOOD EATING HABITS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON HEALTH. URMC ALSO PROVIDES MONTHLY DIABETES EDUCATION ON DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND NUTRITION. IN 2017, URMC WAS DESIGNATED AS A REMOTE STROKE TREATMENT CENTER, PROVIDING TIMELY CONSULTS WITH NEUROLOGISTS. URMC CONSISTENTLY OFFERS BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS AND EDUCATION AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND HEALTH FAIRS. IN 2017, URMC OPENED SILVERCARE, AN 18-BED INPATIENT GERIATRIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT. IN 2018, URMC OPENED A RURAL HEALTH CLINIC AS WELL AS PURCHASING AN URGENT CARE FACILITY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE. IN EARLY 2019, URMC RECRUITED A NEW CARDIOLOGIST AS WELL AS A NEW FAMILY MEDICINE PROVIDER. IN LATE 2019, URMC ADDED TWO NEW FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS, A NEW OB/GYN, A NEW OTHROPEDIC SURGEON, AND A NEW ENT. WE ALSO ADDED SATURDAY HOURS AT ONE OF OUR WALK-IN PRIMARY CARE CLINICS. IN 2020, URMC ESTABLISHED AN INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY PROGRAM, GIVING URMC THE ABILITY TO PERFORM PROCEDURES (SUCH AS STENTING AND ANGIOPLASTY) TO TREAT COMPLEX HEART CONDITIONS, INCLUDING EMERGENCY TREATMENT OF HEART ATTACKS. URMC RECRUITED A CARDIOLOGIST, FAMILY PRACTICE PHYSICIAN, AND OB/GYN IN 2021. THE GOVERNING BODY IS PRIMARILY COMPRISED OF PERSONS WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS (NOR FAMILY MEMBERS THEREOF), AND GENERALLY REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE POPULATION SERVED. THE MEDICAL STAFF IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS IN THE REGION. THE EMERGENCY ROOM IS OPEN 24/7, SERVING PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, URMC REINVESTS ALL OF ITS SURPLUS FUNDS FROM ITS OPERATING AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE, EXPAND AND REPLACE EXISTING FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, INVEST IN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS, SUPPORT COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS AND ADVANCE MEDICAL TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 7
GEORGIA

Operating expenses	$ 110,188,578
Total amount spent on community benefits as % of operating expenses	$ 13,873,815 12.59 %