All across the country, from Massachusetts to California, local communities are defending and improving their access to health care through campaigns to increase the "community benefits" provided by hospitals, HMOs and insurers. In some states, regulators and legislators have taken critical leadership in this process by defining the obligations of health care institutions to provide community benefits and to work with the community.
Community benefits are the unreimbursed goods and services, provided by health care institutions, that address community-identified health needs and concerns. Some common examples include free or "charity" care at hospitals, premium subsidies by insurers or HMOs, health education campaigns, enhanced interpreter services and support for community based programs such as domestic violence services.
Health Care For All is a statewide Massachusetts consumer organization which has been working on community benefits since 1992 in Boston and many other local communities.
The Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts has been a national leader in the community benefits arena, issuing voluntary guidelines for nonprofit acute care hospitals and HMOs in 1994.
The presenters will share their experiences in engaging communities and providers in community benefits efforts and in using regulation to ensure meaningful community benefits contributions by institutions.
At the end of the session, participants will understand:
1. The scope of the community benefits concept 2. The range of community benefits laws and regulations around the country and strategies used by regulators to implement these policies. 3. Strategies and opportunities for communities to engage in community benefits effort
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will understand: 1. The scope of the community benefits concept 2. The range of community benefits laws and regulations around the country and strategies used by regulators to implement these policies. 3. Strategies and opportunities for communities to engage in community benefits effort
Keywords: Community Benefits, Community Participation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Health Care For All
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment