We would like to share the following community benefit news and resources with you.
Community Benefit and ACA Repeal Efforts
IRS Releases 2016 Schedule H Form
CHA Resource on the Social Determinants of Health
Democracy Collaborative Releases Toolkits on Local Hiring and Sourcing
Oregon Health Organizations Invest $21 million in Affordable Housing, Medical
Services
Register Now for December AHD Learning Community Meeting Featuring Academic Health Collaborative of Worcester
Build Health Challenge – Call for Applications
HRSA Programs Linking Housing and Health Care
Health Care and Food Systems Issue Brief
Upcoming CHA Events
Community Benefit in the News
Community Benefit and ACA Repeal Efforts
At this time, CHA does not expect ACA repeal efforts to affect the ACA provisions for tax-exempt hospitals (requirements around community health needs assessments, financial assistance, billing and collections). Therefore, it is important to stay abreast of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) activity related to compliance with these provisions.
In September the IRS released its FY2017 Work Plan for Tax Exempt and Government Entities. The plan notes that as of June 30, 2016, the IRS had completed 692 reviews of tax-exempt hospitals for compliance with IRC section 501(r) and had referred 166 hospitals for field examination. Issues for which referrals were made were lack of community health needs assessments; no financial assistance and/or emergency medical care policies; and billing and collections issues. To help our members better understand and address these compliance issues, CHA and Vizient are hosting a webinar on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. ET with Preston Quesenberry, who authored the rules as an attorney with the IRS. Registration is now open and free for CHA and Vizient members.
ACA repeal efforts will have an impact on insurance coverage and public health funding at the federal level. This may result in hospitals spending more on financial assistance and needing to work with their local communities to support disease prevention and health promotion efforts.
IRS Releases 2016 Schedule H Form
The IRS has released its Form 990, Schedule H for 2016. This form reflects the final IRS rules for IRC section 501 (r). In the section on community health needs assessments, the 2016 form deletes reference to identifying "information gaps that limit the hospital facility's ability to assess the community's health needs" (this item was in proposed but not final rule) and adds, "the impact of any actions taken to address the significant health needs identified in the hospital facility's prior CHNA(s)." The form updates language about publicizing financial assistance policies (FAPs) and adds "deferring, denying or requiring a payment before providing medically necessary care due to nonpayment of a previous bill for care covered under the hospital facility's FAP," to the actions against an individual prohibited until making reasonable effort to determined financial assistance eligibility. The 2016 form also updates the section on charges to FAP eligible individuals to be consistent with the final rule.
CHA Resource on the Social Determinants of Health
CHA has added links to many resources on the social determinants of health on its website. Visit to learn more about national initiatives, tools and resources, research and ministry examples. If you have resources or examples to share, please contact Indu Spugnardi.
Democracy Collaborative Releases Toolkits on Local Hiring and Sourcing
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Democracy Collaborative is creating toolkits to accelerate a new model in health care that builds community health into core business practices. These toolkits will help health systems integrate community health principles into three distinct business functions: (1) inclusive, local hiring and workforce development; (2) local and diverse sourcing; and (3) leveraging their long-term investment portfolios for community investment. The first two toolkits have been released and focus on local hiring and sourcing.
Oregon Health Organizations Invest $21 Million in Affordable Housing, Medical Services
Providence Health & Services – Oregon, along with five other health care organizations, have invested $21 million in a new partnership that will provide housing and medical services for the very poor, medically fragile, people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders and those displaced by gentrification.
Register Now for December AHD Learning Community Meeting Featuring Academic Health Collaborative of Worcester
Join the Academic Health Department (AHD) Learning Community, a networking group of public health and health care professionals, for its next virtual meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET to learn about the Academic Health Collaborative of Worcester (Mass.), which fosters collaboration between the Worcester Division of Public Health, UMass Memorial Health Care and academic partners to improve community health and develop public health research and practice leaders.
During this meeting, speakers from the Worcester Division of Public Health will address topics such as need for increased capacity, Public Health Accreditation Board accreditation, funding, strategic planning and future growth. AHD Learning Community meetings are open to all who are interested. Visit the meeting webpage to learn more and register.
Build Health Challenge – Call for Applications
The BUILD Health Challenge has issued a call for applications for its second wave of $250,000 grants. These 17 awards will support implementation of cross-sector solutions to local health challenges, and require participation by a local health department, hospital and community organization. Informational webinars are being offered in the next several weeks and Round 1 applications are due Feb. 21, 2017.
HRSA Programs Linking Housing and Health Care
A recent blog post by HRSA's acting administrator describes HRSA programs that link health care services and housing. Initiatives include the Federal Home Visiting Program, interagency collaboration on early childhood homelessness, Health Center Program and the Ryan White HIV/AIDs Program.
Health Care and Food Systems Issue Brief
The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future issued an issue brief this spring offering recommendations on how hospitals can use community needs assessments, implementation strategies and advocacy to improve food systems and thereby improve population health.
Upcoming CHA Events
Registration is now open for the following CHA programs. Use the links below for more information and to register.
Community Benefit in the News
Recent articles from Catholic Health World and Health Progress featuring community benefit news and programs from the across the ministry