Edward-Elmhurst Community Benefit more than $200 million in FY 2013

Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare’s Community Benefit totaled $206.3 million in fiscal year (FY) 2013 (July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013).  Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare is the health system created by the 2013 merger of Edward Hospital & Health Services and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, and includes Edward Hospital, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and Linden Oaks at Edward.

Included in the system’s Community Benefit was nearly $26 million in charity care – the cost of medical services for patients provided free or partially reimbursed, through the system’s Financial Assistance Policies, which call for all patients to be treated without regard for their ability to pay for services.

“It is our commitment to provide quality healthcare for all who walk through our doors,” says Pam Davis, System CEO, Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare.  “That’s especially true for our patients and families who are unable to pay due to their financial situation or because they don’t have health insurance.”

Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare’s FY 2013 Community Benefit efforts included:

--Improved access to physicians, featuring Illinois Health Partners, a joint venture between DuPage Medical Group and Edward Hospital to improve the quality of healthcare, control costs and improve the patient experience throughout the region

--Fighting obesity, including medically-based weight loss clinics at Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, and involvement in FORWARD and ProActive Kids, organizations with the mission of reversing the childhood obesity trend.

--Improving mental health, highlighted by the opening of Linden Oaks at Edward’s 45,000-square foot Outpatient Center and expansion of the Mental Health First Aid program throughout the region.

Kelly and William of Lombard were beneficiaries of Elmhurst Memorial’s Financial Assistance Policy in 2013.  When they found themselves out of work, they were forced to liquidate their assets to meet their financial obligations.

“For the first time in our lives, we could barely scrape enough funds together to pay our bills,” said Kelly.  “At that time, my husband had been seeing a specialist at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital.  When our COBRA insurance ended, we found out we didn’t qualify for Medicaid and we didn’t know what we were going to do.”

Kelly put off her own medical needs as long as she could, but didn’t want William to lose the progress he was making through therapy.  Kelly was told about Elmhurst Memorial’s Financial Assistance Program and filled out the application.  In January of 2013, their Financial Assistance application was approved, covering nearly $5,700 in medical costs.

“There is such a stigma out there about people who receive charity care.  We never thought we would ever find ourselves needing financial assistance, but fate had other plans,” said Kelly.  “Without it, we would never have been able to afford the care.”

Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare provides 100% assistance for uninsured patients who earn up to three times the U.S. poverty level.  There’s a sliding scale that ranges from 95-60% assistance for those whose income is three to five times the poverty level.  For uninsured patients, even those with incomes above this level, the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount is offered, which reduces charges to no more than 135% of cost.  Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare works with patients to develop payment plans to pay off remaining balances.

In addition, specially trained counselors help uninsured patients apply for public aid, and social workers and discharge planners work with community clinics, primary care doctors and follow-up providers to provide care to qualifying patients on a sliding scale or at no cost.

For more information about financial assistance at Elmhurst Memorial, visit www.emhc.org/financialassistance or call (331) 221-6740.  For more information about financial assistance at Edward, visit www.edward.org/financialassistance or call (630) 527-3100. 

Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare Community Benefit

In fiscal year 2013, Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare provided $206.3 million in Community Benefit, a seven-percent increase over their FY 2012 amount.

BENEFIT TYPE                                        FY 2013*

Charity Care**                            $25,952,638

Unreimbursed Medicare/

Medicaid***                              $127,907,090

Bad Debt**                               $25,902,543

Community Services                  $26,563,629

Total****                                  $206,325,900

* FY 2013: July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013

** Calculated using cost-to-charge ratio

*** Calculated using cost accounting system

**** Combined numbers of Edward Hospital, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare