We would like to share the following community benefit news and resources with you.
Guidance on Reporting Telehealth/Telemedicine Activities as Community Benefit
Compliance Update for Tax-Exempt Hospitals
CMS Issues Revised Guidance on "Free Care"
Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI) Annual Meeting
Upcoming Events
Community Benefit in the News
Guidance on Reporting Telehealth/Telemedicine Activities as Community Benefit
CHA has posted guidance on what telehealth/telemedicine activities might be reported as community benefit.
Compliance Update for Tax-Exempt Hospitals
Final Rules for ACA Requirements for Tax-Exempt Hospitals Released
The Internal Revenue Service has issued its final rules implementing the Affordable Care Act's requirements for tax-exempt hospital organizations. The rules concern community health needs assessments (CHNAs) and implementation strategies, financial assistance and emergency medical care policies, limitations on charges for persons eligible for financial assistance and billing and collection policies. CHA has posted a summary of changes between the final and proposed rules and a summary of CHNA and implementation strategy requirements on its website.
Final Version of Schedule H for TY2014 Released
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released the final version of the IRS Form 990, Schedule H for tax year 2014. The IRS did not change its position on how to account for restricted grants in the final version of the form. Restricted grants or contributions that the organization uses to provide a community benefit must be included in direct offsetting revenue.
CMS Issues Revised Guidance on "Free Care"
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in December 2014 a revision to its guidance on "free care" which will allow public schools to receive Medicaid money for health services they provide to eligible students.
Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI) Annual Meeting – CHA Events and Offerings
The ACHI annual meeting will be held March 4-6 in Dallas. CHA will have an exhibit at the meeting and will host its members for a networking lunch on Wednesday, March 4. CHA members planning to attend the meeting and who would like to attend the lunch should RSVP to Debbie Morrow.
CHA, with AAMC and VHA, will also be presenting a session, Community Health Needs Assessments: A National Snapshot of Hospital and Health System Approaches, on Wednesday afternoon at 3:15 p.m.
Upcoming Events
Registration is now open for the following CHA community benefit programs. Use the links below to learn more and to register.
Feb. 20, 2015 — Webinar on ACA Requirements for Tax-Exempt Hospitals Final Rule — In this webinar IRS lawyers Preston Quesenberry and Stephanie Robbins will address key aspects of the final rules implementing the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) 501 (r) requirements for tax-exempt.
June 7, 2015 — Pre-Assembly Community Benefit Program — This annual meeting on community benefit in Catholic health care will provide an update on final rules related to tax-exempt hospital requirements and feature CHA members who are using new models of community engagement to achieve population health goals. Location: Washington DC.
Oct. 6-7, 2015 — Community Benefit 101 — A one-and-a-half day seminar for new community benefit professionals that covers the basics of community benefit programming. Location: St. Louis.
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