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St. Anthony
Regional Hospital NEWS RELEASE
ST. ANTHONY REGIONAL HOSPITAL PROVIDES COMMUNITY BENEFITS St. Anthony Regional Hospital provides nearly $1.6 million in community benefits to the greater Carroll area, according to an assessment of programs and services completed for 2005. That amount includes $640,000 in uncompensated care and nearly $950,000 in direct community benefits that St. Anthony Regional Hospital specifically implemented to help area residents. “As a regional leader in providing high quality healthcare services, we at St. Anthony Regional Hospital recognize the need to be responsive to patient and community needs,” said Gary Riedmann, Hospital CEO. “St. Anthony’s programs providing health education, periodic health screening and a variety of support groups are important ways we contribute to the community’s wellness. For example, each year over 800 people are assisted through support groups such as those for Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and heart problems.” “Community benefits also include charity care and bad debt costs, which amounted to $640,000 in 2005,” according to Ed Smith, St. Anthony CFO. “These lost dollars, coupled with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement shortfalls significantly impact St. Anthony’s ability to fund community benefit programs.” According to Kirk Norris, Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) President, results for St. Anthony are included in a statewide report published by IHA that shows Iowa Hospitals provided community benefits valued at more than $789 million in 2005. Norris also emphasized that community benefit programs are not likely to be supported or provided by an entity other than a community hospital. These losses from Medicare, Medicaid and uncompensated care will be adversely impacted and will continue to grow if, as President Bush has proposed, nearly $163 million is cut from Iowa Hospital payments over the next five years. |
