CHA is making it easier to ask questions and get prompt answers about what counts as community benefit.
A new "Submit a what counts question to CHA" button went live on CHA's website in January. The button is on the What Counts as Community Benefit page as well as the page for the What Counts Q&A Library.
The button provides links to these CHA resources: "Is it Community Benefit? Quick Reference Guide," the "What Counts Q&A Library" and the "Community Benefit Categories and Definitions" from CHA's A Guide for Planning & Reporting Community Benefit. Users who don't find an answer to their question there can fill out a form and submit it.
"One of our goals at CHA is to support and build knowledge of community benefit requirements and support our members and the field," said Nancy Zuech Lim, CHA's director of community health improvement. Members and nonmembers can use the resources, she added.
Before, users with questions were led to a document that provided further instructions to email Lim. "That process involved a lot of steps to reach us," said Lim. "Now there is a very easy way to get in touch with us."
When someone submits a question, Lim will receive a notice in her email inbox. So will Kim Skinner, CHA's community health program coordinator. Skinner will log and track the question.
CHA has a What Counts work group, made up of community benefit professionals who volunteer their expertise for six-month terms. The work group members share their insights and experiences when needed.
Users typically receive responses within two weeks. Lim estimated more than 135 questions were answered in 2025. Some questions and answers may be added to the CHA What Counts library. Tracking the questions provides Lim and Skinner with information when developing resources and updating information on the website.
Topics in the What Counts library include the reportable categories of community benefit — financial assistance, health professions education, research and subsidized health services — and topics related to reporting and other requirements.
CHA is continually updating its community benefit resources. In 2025, it released a revised edition of A Guide for Planning & Reporting Community Benefit, considered an essential source for Catholic and other nonprofit health care organizations responding to the unique needs of their communities.
CHA has provided information and tools for assessing, planning, implementing and reporting community benefit for more than 35 years. Its community benefit resources are at www.chausa.org/communitybenefit.