4A (Expenses $ 41472227 including grants of $ 0) (Revenue $ 36887494)
"STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS LICENSED TO OPERATE 96 INPATIENT BEDS AND PROVIDES OUTPATIENT SERVICES TO A SERVICE AREA THAT EXTENDS BEYOND STEPHENS COUNTY INTO THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES OF FRANKLIN, HART, HABERSHAM, RABUN AND BANKS IN GEORGIA, AND INTO NEIGHBORING OCONEE COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ALSO OPERATES A 92-BED PERSONAL CARE HOME. THE HOSPITAL PARTICIPATES IN SEVERAL EMPLOYER SPONSORED HEALTH FAIRS AND SUPPORTS THE LOCAL EMPLOYERS IN THE ""DRUGS DON'T WORK"" PROGRAM. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES FREE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING TO THE OPEN ARMS CLINIC (A FREE CLINIC OPERATING IN STEPHENS COUNTY). THE HOSPITAL DOES NOT TURN DOWN ANYONE FOR EMERGENCY AND/OR MEDICALLY NECESSARY SERVICES BASED ON THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR SUCH SERVICES."

FACILITY 1, STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 3E
THE 2022 CHNA IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIZED SIGNIFICANT HEALTH NEEDS FOR THE STEPHENS COUNTY SERVICE AREA - MENTAL HEALTH - MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH - YOUNG ADULTS, ESPECIALLY SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES EMERGENCY ROOM - EDUCATION FOR PROPER USE OBESITY

FACILITY 1, STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 5
TO IDENTIFY THE HEALTH NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE CHNA PARTNERS ESTABLISHED A COMPREHENSIVE METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR ALL AVAILABLE RELEVANT DATA, INCLUDING COMMUNITY INPUT. THE BASIS OF IDENTIFICATION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS WAS THE WEIGHT OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA OBTAINED WHEN ASSESSING THE COMMUNITY. SURVEYORS CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS AND FOCUS GROUPS WITH INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING PUBLIC HEALTH, COMMUNITY LEADERS/GROUPS, PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER PROVIDERS. IN SOME COMMUNITIES, SUPPLEMENTARY QUALITATIVE DATA WAS INCLUDED. IN ADDITION, QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTED FROM SEVERAL PUBLIC SOURCES WAS BENCHMARKED AGAINST A STATE VALUE TO INDICATE THE LEVEL OF NEED. PUBLIC HEALTH INDICATORS WERE USED TO ASSESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS FROM A QUANTITATIVE DATA PERSPECTIVE. THIS INCLUDED COLLECTION OF 129 DATA ELEMENTS GROUPED INTO 11 CATEGORIES AND EVALUATED FOR THE COUNTIES WHERE DATA WAS AVAILABLE. A BENCHMARK ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE PUBLIC HEALTH INDICATORS THAT DEMONSTRATED A COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED FROM A QUANTITATIVE PERSPECTIVE. BENCHMARK HEALTH INDICATORS INCLUDED (WHEN AVAILABLE): OVERALL U.S. VALUES AND STATE OF GEORGIA VALUES. ONCE THE COMMUNITY BENCHMARK WAS SET TO THE STATE VALUE, IT WAS DETERMINED WHICH INDICATORS FOR THE COMMUNITY DID NOT MEET THE STATE BENCHMARKS. THIS CREATED A SUBSET OF INDICATORS FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS. A NEED DIFFERENTIAL ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIVE SEVERITY OF NEED FOR THESE INDICATORS. THE NEED DIFFERENTIAL ESTABLISHED A STANDARDIZED WAY TO EVALUATE THE DEGREE EACH INDICATOR DIFFERED FROM ITS BENCHMARK. HEALTH COMMUNITY INDICATORS WITH NEED DIFFERENTIALS ABOVE THE 50TH PERCENTILE WERE ORDERED BY SEVERITY; THE HIGHEST RANKED INDICATORS WERE THE TOP HEALTH NEEDS FROM A QUANTITATIVE PERSPECTIVE. THE OUTCOMES OF THE QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS WERE COMPARED TO THE QUALITATIVE DATA FINDINGS. IN ADDITION TO ANALYZING QUANTITATIVE DATA, THE FACILITATOR COLLECTED QUALITATIVE DATA VIA A VARIETY OF SOURCES TO GATHER THE INPUT OF PERSONS REPRESENTING THE BROAD INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED THROUGHOUT THE REGION. INPUT FROM OVER 500 PEOPLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE ASSESSMENT VIA SEVERAL DIFFERENT APPROACHES. FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVED BY STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL, ONE (1) FOCUS GROUP SESSION WITH NINE (9) PARTICIPANTS AND FOUR (4) INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED MARCH THROUGH APRIL 2019. A LIST OF THE ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING INPUT CAN BE FOUND IN APPENDIX B OF THE CHNA. SUMMARY FINDINGS FROM THE FOCUS GROUPS AND INTERVIEWS CAN BE FOUND IN APPENDIX C OF THE DOCUMENT. THE CHNA PROCESS WAS FACILITATED BY IBM WATSON HEALTH.

FACILITY 1, STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 6A
THE JOINT CHNA WAS CONDUCTED BY THESE JOINT CHNA PARTNERS: HABERSHAM MEDICAL CENTER NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER GAINESVILLE/BRASELTON NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER BARROW NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER LUMPKIN GOOD NEWS CLINICS

FACILITY 1, STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 6B
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH - DISTRICT 2 PUBLIC HEALTH

FACILITY 1, STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL - PART V, LINE 11
STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL HAS ADDRESSED EACH OF THE SIGNFICANT HEALTH NEEDS AS PRIORITIZED IN THE CHNA BY ITS WORK GROUP AND DEVELOPED IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS EACH OF THE HEALTH ISSUES IDENTIFIED OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7
THE ORGANIZATION USES A COST-TO-CHARGE RATIO AS CALCULATED USING FORM 990, SCHEDULE H, WORKSHEET 2 TO CALCULATE THE DISCLOSURES IN SCHEDULE H, PART I, LINE 7 A - C.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 2
THE AUTHORITY PROVIDES AN ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNTS BASED ON THE EVALUATION OF OVERALL COLLECTABILITY OF THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. AS ACCOUNTS ARE KNOW TO BE UNCOLLECTIBLE, THEY ARE CHARGED AGAINST THE ALLOWANCE.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 3
THE BAD DEBT EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CARE THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (65%) IS BASED ON MANAGEMENT'S EVALUATION OF THE MEDIAN INCOME AND POVERTY LEVELS IN THE SERVICE AREA.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 4
FOOTNOTES 2 AND 3 IN THE ATTACHED AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ADDRESS UNCOMPENSATED CARE INCLUDING UNINSURED PATIENTS AND THE PROVISION FOR BAD DEBTS. PLEASE SEE PAGES 21 - 24.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 8
MEDICARE ALLOWABLE COSTS ARE COMPUTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH COST REPORTING METHODOLOGIES UTILIZED ON THE MEDICARE COST REPORT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH RELATED REGULATIONS. INDIRECT COSTS ARE ALLOCATED TO DIRECT SERVICE AREAS USING THE MOST APPROPRIATE STATISTICAL BASIS. THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SHORTFALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A COMMUNITY BENEFIT. MEDICARE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM WHICH DICTATES PAYMENT RATES AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION FOR SERVING CERTAIN ELDERLY AND DISABLED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. SERVING THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS AT BELOW MEDICARE'S COMPUTATION OF COST PROVIDES NECESSARY LOCAL CARE FOR A SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION THAT CONSTITUTES A CHARITABLE CLASS.

SCHEDULE H, PART III, LINE 9B
PATIENTS KNOWN TO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE CONTACTED TO ASCERTAIN THEIR ABILITY TO PAY ANY BALANCE DUE AFTER THE FAP DISCOUNT AND/OR THEIR PLACEMENT ON THE INDIGENT/CHARITY CARE POLICY GUIDELINES OR TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATION. IF PREVIOUS QUALIFICATION OCCURRED WITHIN THE PRIOR 3 MONTHS OR THERE IS A HISTORIC LONG-TERM QUALIFICATION PATTERN, A PATIENT MAY BE PRESUMED INDIGENT OR IN NEED OF CHARITY.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 2
IN ADDITION TO CONDUCTING A FORMAL COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT, THE HOSPITAL RECEIVES INPUT AND ADVICE FROM MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL STAFF, NURSING STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 3
ALL PATIENTS AND VISITORS RECEIVE NOTIFICATION AT REGISTRATION THAT THERE ARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AND THAT THE HOSPITAL STAFF WILL ASSIST THEM IN EXPLORING ELIGIBILITY. ALL UNINSURED PATIENTS ARE CHECKED AGAINST THE MEDICAID DATABASE FOR ELIGIBILITY AND ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS IF ELIGIBILITY IS INDICATED. PATIENTS ARE OFFERED A COPY OF THE PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY OF THE FAP UPON ADMISSION AND SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY ALERTS PATIENTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY UPON REQUEST. THE FAP, PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION ARE AVAILABLE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 4
STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY IS LOCATED IN TOCCOA, GEORGIA AND SERVES BOTH STEPHENS AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES. THE AREA IS GROWING SLOWLY WITH A PROJECT GROWTH RATE OF LESS THAN HALF THE RATE OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THE MEDIAN AGE OF THE AREA IS MUCH OLDER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE; MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS SIGNFICANTLY LOWER THAN STATE AND NATIONAL BENCHMARKS; AND THE ESTIMATED UNINSURED RATE IS GREATER THAN STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS. THE 2018 MEDIAN INCOME WITHIN THE ZIP CODES IN THE HOSPITAL'S SEVICE AREA RANGE FROM 34,369 TO 45,362 (THE MEDIAN FOR GEORGIA WAS 55,559 WITH THE NATIONAL MEDIAN WAS 62,175). APPROXIMATELY 21% OF THE COMMUNITY HAS NO HEALTH INSURANCE AND 14% OF THE COMMUNITY IS ON MEDICAID. THE COMMUNITY INCLUDES 5 HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS AND 1 MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREA.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 5
STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY APPLIES ANY EXCESS REVENUES OVER EXPENSES TO THE PROVISION OF PATIENT CARE, PATIENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION, RETIREMENT OF DEBT RELATED TO THE PURCHASE OF FIXED ASSETS UTILIZED IN THE PROVISION OF PATIENT CARE AND THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE PROVISION OF HEALTHCARE OR EXPANSION OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. THE STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL AUTHORITY'S GOVERNING BOARD INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN THE HOSPITAL'S PRIMARY SERVICE AREA AND WHO ARE NEITHER EMPLOYEES OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OF THE ORGANIZATION NOR FAMILY MEMBERS THEREOF. THE HOSPITAL EXTENDS MEDICAL STAFF PRIVILEGES TO ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE HOSPITAL'S EMERGENCY ROOM IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS PER YEAR TO EVERYONE WITHOUT REGARD TO THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. THE HOSPITAL PARTICIPATES IN THE MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. THE HOSPITAL PROVIDES EMERGENCY AND OTHER MEDICALLY NECESSARY CARE TO THE COMMUNITY ON A NONDISCRIMINATORY BASIS WITHOUT REGARD TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO PAY FOR SUCH CARE.

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 6
STEPHENS COUNTY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, INC. IS A FUNDRAISING AFFILATE THAT SUPPORTS THE HOSPITAL. STEPHENS COUNTY EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS, INC. IS A DORMANT TAX-EXEMPT ENTITY. PRIOR TO CEASING OPERATIONS, IT PROVIDED EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS TO THE HOSPITAL (THE HOSPITAL NOW CONTRACTS DIRECTLY WITH A THIRD PARTY PROVIDER FOR THESE SERVICES).

SCHEDULE H, PART VI, LINE 7
GEORGIA

SCHEDULE H, PART VI
THE COMPLETE URL FOR THE FAP, FAP PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY, THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION, THE CHNA AND THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY REPORTS ARE AS FOLLOWS _ FAP - HTTPS://STEPHENSCOUNTYHOSPITAL.COM/FULLPANEL/UPLOADS/FILES/SCH- FINANCIAL-ASSISTANCE-POLICY-PATIENT.PDF. PLS - HTTP://STEPHENSCOUNTYHOSPITAL.COM/FULLPANEL/UPLOADS/FILES/FINANCIAL- ASSISTANCE-PROGRAM---PLAIN-LANGUAGE-00003.PDF. APPLICATION - HTTPS://STEPHENSCOUNTYHOSPITAL.COM/FULLPANEL/UPLOADS/FILES/4 -ITF-APPLICATION.PDF. CHNA - HTTPS://STEPHENSCOUNTYHOSPITAL.COM/FULLPANEL/UPLOADS/FILES/NEGA- CHNA-FOR-EXTERNAL-USE.PDF. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY REPORT - HTTPS://STEPHENSCOUNTYHOSPITAL.COM/FULLPANEL/UPLOADS/FILES/2019-SCH- IMPLEMENTATION-STRATEGY.PDF.