05/31/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/31/2023 12:52
Despite the financial havoc wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, including sharply rising costs and stagnant revenue, Oregon hospitals' total community benefit spending grew by $225 million in 2021 to $1.97 billion, a 12.9% increase over 2020 and the largest percentage increase since 2016.
The fiscal year 2021 community benefit data, recently released by Apprise Health Insights, shows that this growth in community investments continues a trend. Since 2016, hospitals have increased spending by more than 48%, providing care for which they are not reimbursed and supporting their communities to improve health and well-being.
"We are proud of the many ways in which Oregon's hospitals support the health and well-being of their communities," said Becky Hultberg, OAHHS president and CEO. "Community benefit is just one way that hospitals make a difference in people's lives, and it is help that is needed now more than ever."
Other key findings include: