1. Instructions This slide deck contains two presentations:
An Orientation to Community Benefit for Organizational Leaders (starts slide 2)
An Orientation to Community Benefit: What Frontline Staff Need to Know (starts slide 27)
The content in these slides may be copied into existing presentations or used on their own.

2. An Orientation To Community Benefit For Organizational Leaders

3. Our Tradition
Catholic health care has a rich tradition of serving our communities
Founding sisters came to this country to care for the sick and start hospitals, nursing homes, schools and orphanages
We follow the tradition of Jesus who had special affection for poor and vulnerable persons
Providing community benefit is an essential part of our mission

4. (Organization’s Name) Tradition
(the story of this organization)

5. Our Tradition Our Gospel values commit us to:
Promote and defend human dignity – treat every person with respect
Care for poor and vulnerable persons – reach out to underserved persons
Promote the common good – always look for what is in the best interest of the community
Steward resources – use our financial and human resources wisely
(add values of this organization)

6. We Need To Be Accountable Affordable Care Act (ACA)
The ACA added requirements for tax- exempt hospitals related to:
Community health need assessment
Implementation strategy
Financial assistance
Charges
Billing/collections

7. Affordable Care Act
ACA requirements for community health needs assessment (CHNA):
At least once every three years
Include input from persons who represent the broad interests of the community
Include input from persons having public health knowledge or expertise

8. Affordable Care Act ACA requirements for implementation strategy:
A written plan that addresses each of the community health needs identified through a CHNA for the hospital
Describes either:
How the hospital plans to meet the health need, or
Why the hospital does not intend to meet the health need
Adopted by governing body

9. We Need To Be Accountable Mandated Reporting
The Internal Revenue Service and 20 states require annual reporting of community benefit information.

10. We Need To Be Accountable IRS Reporting
Hospitals must report on the IRS Form 990, Schedule H:
Financial assistance and other community benefit information
Information about:
-- Financial assistance policies
-- Collection policies
-- Community need assessment
-- Other information about how the organization benefits the community

11. We Need To Be Accountable
We are being asked if we are still charitable, community oriented organizations:
By the sisters (or others) who sponsor our organizations
Our board, donors, and others to whom we are responsible
Our communities
Those who grant us exemption from taxes

12. We Need to Be Accountable
To be accountable, we:
Plan community benefit programs in an organized way
Design community benefit programs to respond to community needs
Work closely with people and organizations in our communities
Keep track and report what we do for our communities

13. Principles of Our Community Benefit Programs
The economically poor have a moral priority for services
We have a responsibility to work to improve health in communities by focusing on prevention as well as treatment
Community members and organizations are invited to be actively involved in all phases of our community benefit program
It is important to demonstrate the value of community service
Commitment to community health improvement should be reflected throughout our organizations
Leadership commitment is needed for successful community benefit programs (active support of senior management and governing board)

14. To Be Sustainable, Our Program Needs Organizational Support
A culture that sets the tone
Commitment of leaders
Sufficient staff
Adequate budget
Collaborative relationships with community members and groups

15. To Be Sustainable, Our Program Needs a Strong Infrastructure
Clear and visible policies, including:
Financial assistance for uninsured and underinsured
Involvement of physicians in serving low-income persons and participating in community benefit programs
Encouraging employees to always act charitably and respectfully and to participate in community benefit programs

16. To be Sustainable, Our Program Needs a Strong Infrastructure
Integration with other critical functions:
Planning
Operations
Clinical Services
Communications

17. Steps in Our Community Benefit Program
Assessing needs and resources in the community:
Use existing and new information
Focus on service gaps, risk factors and health problems
Work with others in our community
(Present greatest needs in this community)

18. Steps in Our Community Benefit Program
Setting priorities for what services to engage in:
Look at seriousness and scope of problem, determine whether this is a problem to the community
Consider our organization's strengths and what we can contribute
Put priority on services related to access to care and other services for the economically poor

19. Steps in Community Benefit Program
Planning
Our strategic plan includes information on health problems in the community and our role in addressing them
We are part of community-wide programs to improve health and health services in our community (insert examples)
We have our own implementation strategy describing our specific community benefit efforts (insert examples)
Each program has a specific objective so we can track whether it is making a difference

20. Steps in Our Community Benefit Program
Tracking community benefits
We have an organized way of keeping track of community benefits that is used throughout Catholic health care and by many other organizations

21. Tracking Community Benefits
Community benefits include:
Financial assistance and discounted services to uninsured and low-income persons
Participation in Medicaid programs
Losses from programs we subsidize because they are needed in the community (i.e. mental health services)
Community health services (clinics, health education)
Training for physicians, nurses and others
Research
Contribution: cash and in-kind
Community building activities (advocacy for early childhood development programs, housing for low-income seniors)

22. Steps in Our Community Benefit Program
Evaluation – we look at:
Are we giving resources to the right places?
Are our programs effective in making a difference?
Are we a good partner in the community?
Is our program well run and of high quality ?

23. Steps in Our Community Benefit Program
Telling the story
Shows staff, physicians, board and community members we are a mission-driven organization
Invites community members and groups to support our programs – as program partners, as volunteers, as donors
Demonstrates that our tax exempt purpose is still being fulfilled

24. Steps in Our Community Benefit Program
Telling the story
We tell our community benefit story in all communications:
Reports to the community and others
Orientation and education of staff
Board meetings
Talks to community groups
Media contacts
Advocacy visits to policymakers

25. What Community Benefit Programs Need from Organizational Leadership
Visible and vocal commitment that community health improvement and community benefit is an important part of this organization
Inclusion of community needs and community benefit programs in strategic and operational plans
Appointment of staff, committees, other needed resources
Incentives for all managers, staff, and physicians to participate

26. Summary
We provide community benefits because this is an important part of our mission
Our communities need us to provide services to uninsured and low-income persons and to help improve health in our communities
We provide community benefits in an organized way
We need the support of executive and trustee leaders
Community benefits demonstrate that we continue the faith-inspired tradition of our founders

27. An Orientation To Community Benefit: What Frontline Staff Need To Know

28. Our Tradition
Catholic health care has a rich tradition of serving our communities
Founding sisters came to this country, to care for the sick and start hospitals, nursing homes, schools and orphanages
We follow the tradition of Jesus who had special affection for poor and vulnerable persons
Providing community benefits is an essential part of our mission

29. (Organization’s Name) Tradition
(the story of this organization)

30. Our Tradition Our values commit us to:
Promote and defend human dignity – treat every person with respect
Care for poor and vulnerable persons – reach out to underserved persons
Promote the common good - always look for what is in the best interest of the community
Steward resources - use our financial and human resources wisely
(add values of this organization)

31. As a Catholic Health Care Organization
We believe:
The economically poor have a moral priority for services
The "stranger" – persons who were not born in this country and who do not speak our language – deserve special consideration
We have a responsibility to work to improve health in communities by focusing on prevention as well as treatment
Serving uninsured and poor persons and providing community benefits is an essential part of our mission

32. Facts About Poverty Statistics
In 2010, more than 46 million people lived in poverty. This number of people living in poverty is the largest number seen in 52 years.
In over 31% of single family homes (no father), the children are poor
In 2010, 22% of all children lived in poverty – that’s over 1 in every 5 children.

33. Facts About Poverty Federal definition of poverty:
For a family of four, income of less than about $22,314/year
For a family of three, income of less than about $17,374/year
U.S. Census Bureau

34. Facts About Poverty What it means to be poor
Families meeting federal definition do not have enough funds to meet basic needs of minimal housing, utilities, food, transportation, health care, and child care
They have no extra income for things such as school supplies, clothes, birthday gifts, entertainment, household supplies
In 2010, one in seven American households were food insecure.
There are fewer opportunities than before for people to work their way out of poverty

35. Facts About the Uninsured
The effect of being uninsured has an impact on health:
Problems getting medical care
Less use of preventative services
Unable to follow-up, fill prescriptions
More likely to be hospitalized with preventable problems
U.S. Census Bureau

36. Who Benefits From Our Community Benefit Program?
The whole community
People living in poverty
The uninsured and underinsured

37. How We Help to Make Communities Healthy
We do this by:
Assessing needs and resources in our community
Setting priorities among service gaps and problems we find
Working with other community groups
Developing an organized plan
Keeping track of the services we provide
Evaluating whether our programs are working
Telling others about our work and inviting them to help

38. Services We Provide in Response to Community Need
Some of these services include:
Financial assistance and discounted services to uninsured and low-income
Participation in the Medicaid programs
Losses from programs we subsidize because they are needed in the community (i.e. mental health services)
Community health services (clinics, health education)
Training for physicians, nurses and others
Contribution: cash and in-kind
Community building activities (advocacy for better health programs, environment improvement)

39. Information About Our Financial Assistance Program (Charity Care)
We provide free care and can discount the cost of care to persons who meet certain financial criteria
We have written financial assistance policies that are posted in prominent areas
Our policies describe who is eligible and what services are covered
We try to determine eligibility for financial assistance before care is given, but sometimes people do not know or are afraid to tell us they need financial help

40. Information About Our Financial Assistance Program (Charity Care)
Determination for needing financial assistance can made any time throughout the admission/treatment/discharge/billing process
We make an effort to identify all persons who might be eligible for financial assistance and discounts
We treat uninsured and low-income persons the same way we treat all patients
High quality care
With respect

41. (Organization’s name) Financial Assistance Policies

42. What Emergency Departments Should Know
Every person who needs emergency services should be treated:
With respect
With the highest quality of care to all patients
Without any regard to ability to pay

43. What Emergency Departments Should Know
If a patient is uninsured or underinsured:
Inform them about financial assistance and discount policies and how to apply
Find out if they are eligible for Medicaid, state indigent care or children's health insurance program and help them to apply
Find out if they can get needed follow-up care (such as filling prescriptions) and refer to community resources if needed
Inform them about community resources for getting affordable primary care which might prevent future need for emergency care (free clinics, mobile health units)

44. What Billing Departments Should Do
All bills should state:
That financial assistance, with all or part of the bill, may be available for uninsured and low-income persons
How persons can apply for assistance
Establish a process for resolving unpaid bills
* Be sure to check latest IRS rules for specifics

45. What Billing Departments Should Do
For persons who cannot afford to pay their bills:
Find out if person could be eligible for public program assistance (Medicaid, state indigent care, children's health insurance)
Assist them to apply for facility financial assistance
When appropriate, convert bill to financial assistance and inform the patient of this
Treat every person respectfully
*Be sure to check latest IRS rules for specifics

46. All Staff Can Participate in Community Benefit Programs
Tell patients you come in contact with about programs we provide that may be of benefit to them
Let community benefit staff know about community health issues you have encountered in your work
Let the community benefit staff know about all community activities that your department or program is providing
Volunteer to help with our programs
Tell others about our community benefit programs and invite them to be involved
Let us know if you would like time off for a personal volunteer program

47. (Organization’s Name) Community Benefit Activities
Our community benefit activities include:
For more information about our community benefit activities, contact (add contact info)

48. Summary
We provide community benefits because this is an important part of our mission
Our communities need us to provide services to uninsured and low income persons and to help improve health in our communities
When we provide these services, we demonstrate that:
We continue the faith-inspired tradition of our founders
We are who we say we are

49. "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and your visited me. ..what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me….“
- Matthew 25