In the fiscal year of 2024, Massachusetts' medical institutions have done their part in giving back to the community with an investment of approximately $1.2 billion in community benefits. This info, reported by the Attorney General's Office (AGO), reflects contributions from both nonprofit and for-profit hospitals, alongside Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), according to a release published by the Massachusetts AGO.
The report indicates that 52 hospitals filed Community Benefits reports for the year, with 48 nonprofit hospitals contributing a hefty $1 billion of which, $121 million went to free and discounted care. For-profit hospitals, though fewer in number, added $17 million to the pot, $94,208 was allocated specifically to free and discounted care. As for HMOs, five of them reported with contributions totaling $153 million, pouring a significant $132 million into the state’s Health Safety Net, this fund pays for care for those uninsured and underinsured individuals struggling to access affordable health coverage.
Through various Community Benefits programs, hospitals and HMOs report allocating approximately $566 million. Breaking this down, $331 million was earmarked for four statewide health priorities namely chronic disease, housing stability and homelessness, mental health, and substance use disorder. This allocation sees chronic disease taking the largest share with $151.4 million, followed by mental health with $131.3 million, with housing stability and substance use disorder receiving $19.7 million and $28.9 million, respectively. The rest were directed toward meeting other local health needs as identified within communities.
Prominent among the reported community endeavors are programs specifically targeting maternal health, youth well-being, food scarcity, and general community health. For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts's Health Justice Partnership and Grant program contributed $600,000 to support state nonprofits in combating food insecurity. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has extended its outreach through sun safety screening events, providing free education and screening for skin cancer to 884 individuals. Faulkner Hospital has taken a hands-on approach, forging a strategic partnership with the Manning School to deliver comprehensive health classes and nutritional education to students, whereas Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and the Burlington Police Department joined forces to appoint a mental health clinician as a substance use coordinator, aiding 191 individuals and families in FY24.
All the details of the Community Benefits initiatives can be found on the AGO’s Community Benefits webpage, where readers can delve into the specific goals and impacts of each program. The AGO recently convened stakeholders to spotlight programs addressing the maternal health crisis with Community Benefits programs, initiatives managed by Health Care Analyst Maeva Veillard Perry and Senior Health Policy Advisor Sandra Wolitzky of AG Campbell’s divisions.
