Title

Monitoring the Community Benefits of CAHs: A Review of the Data (Briefing Paper #24)

Authors

Melanie Race MS, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Rural Health Research Center
John A. Gale MS, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow
Andrew F. Coburn PhD, University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service, Maine Rural Health Research CenterFollow

Document Type

Briefing Paper

Publication Date

3-1-2010

Keywords

Cutler Institute, Population Health and Health Policy, USM Aging Initiative, Health and Wellness

Abstract

This publication examines evidence of differences in the community benefits provided by CAHs compared to larger hospitals and discuss the issues for CAHs in complying with IRS community benefit reporting requirements.

Key Findings:

• CAHs may benefit from technical assistance and other support in collecting and reporting community benefit data using the CAH/IRS framework and managing their charity and uncompensated care activities.
• CAHs may be unlikely to use community benefit tools that duplicate existing management tools or are not integrated with existing management information systems.
• CAHs are less likely to participate in medical research and education; two significant areas of community benefit activity in larger hospitals, due to their sizes and limited patient volumes.
• Development of arbitrary hospital community benefit standards may disadvantage CAHs as they typically provide lower levels of community benefits when measured as a percentage of total revenues.In this brief, we review the background of this project, examine evidence of differences in the community benefits provided by CAHs compared to larger hospitals, and discuss the issues for CAHs in complying with IRS community benefit reporting requirements.

Funding Organization or Grant

With funding from the federal Office of Rural Health Policy (PHS Grant No. U27RH01080), the Flex Monitoring Team is cooperatively conducting a performance monitoring project for the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (Flex Program).

Recommended Citation

Race, M., Gale, J., & Coburn, A. (2010). Community benefits of critical access hospitals: A review of the data. (Briefing Paper No. 24). Portland, ME: Flex Monitoring Team.