Connecticut hospitals reported a combined annual “community benefit” of $1.5 billion for 2014, according to a report released Wednesday by their industry association, which has been grappling with the state over taxes and suspended payments.
The largest portion of the total community-benefits figure, according to the Connecticut Hospital Association, was unreimbursed costs associated with treating Medicare and Medicaid patients.
Those Medicare and Medicaid costs totaled $1.18 billion in 2014, up from $673 million in 2010.
The next-largest category was charity care and bad debt for patients who couldn’t or didn’t pay their medical bills. That totaled $247.6 million in 2014.
Other pieces of community benefits include community services ($39.6 million), research programs ($18.9 million) and donations to community organizations ($9.2 million).
Hospitals reported the same overall community-benefits figure, $1.5 billion, in 2013.
CHA is hoping the report has an impact on legislators this session. CEO Jennifer Jackson said in a statement that hospitals will struggle to provide community benefits if the state continues to increase provider taxes and suspends payments owed.
