We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Julie for her unwavering commitment to the Catholic Health Association of the United States. Julie's passion for people and communities is evident in her numerous accomplishments and significant impact within the Catholic health ministry and the greater not-for-profit health care community in this country. Julie's contributions resonate deeply, shaping the landscape of our work and forging an enduring legacy in dedicated service to others. Thank you, Julie!
We are pleased to share the following community benefit news and resources. Please visit chausa.org/communitybenefit to access all of CHA's updates and resources on community benefit.
Featured CHA Community Benefit News, Resources and Upcoming Events
Community Benefit and Tax Exemption: CHA's Congressional Staff Briefing
On Sept. 7, CHA held an online briefing for congressional staff on community benefit and tax exemption. More than 75 congressional staff registered for this event. Stephen Clarke, executive director of Exempt Organization Tax Services at Ernst & Young, discussed the policy basics of community benefit. Stephen previously served at the IRS, where he led the revision of Form 990. Two CHA members described their community benefit process and programs: Coletta Barrett, vice president of Mission at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, and Marcos Pesquera, vice president for Health Equity and Inclusion at CHRISTUS Health. CHA resources were shared with attendees.
Follow-up Call for 2023 Community Benefit 101 Attendees Jan. 23, 2024 1 to 2 p.m. ET
Note: This call is for attendees and presenters of this fall's Community Benefit 101 program. Call access information will be sent directly to attendees.
IRS Form 990, Schedule H: An Overview and Update on Current Tax-Exemption Issues Feb. 20, 2024 1 to 2:30 p.m. ET
Tax-exempt hospitals report their community benefit activities and other information related to their tax exemption on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990, Schedule H. This webinar features Stephen Clarke, JD, who managed the redesign of Form 990 and helped develop Schedule H while at the IRS's Tax-Exempt and Government Entities division. Mr. Clarke will provide an overview of Schedule H, the current environment for hospital tax exemption, IRS hospital exam and review activities and recommendations for strengthening compliance and minimizing risk with IRS 501(r)-related and Schedule H requirements.
Do you have an initiative or program you'd like to showcase? CHA is actively seeking community benefit stories to feature as examples of community health improvement. These stories may be featured in our advocacy initiatives, web content, and potentially in articles for Catholic Health World and Health Progress.
This blog addresses recent reports and inquiries focusing on not-for-profit hospitals' spending on charity care. It highlights additional community benefit spending categories not always included in report analysis.
Social Determinants of Health / Health Equity and DEI
CMS Unveils Vital Bulletin on Health-Related Social Needs Screenings
CMS released a bulletin and attached table on Nov. 16, 2023, on health-related social needs (HRSN) screenings and opportunities to cover HRSN under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation at Harvard Law School provides a summary of the bulletin.
This framework introduces a five-part framework that institutions can implement for racial healing: Restoration, Prioritization, Accountability, Imagination and Resources.
Several resources were recently released by the White House, HHS and CMS to improve coordination among social services, public health and health care. Resources included The U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health and HHS's.
This blog highlights the findings of a recently released report from the National Center for Health Statistics, "Infant Mortality in United States: Provisional Data from the 2022 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death File."
This article discusses the new campaign, Impact Wellbeing™, launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It addresses the issue of healthcare worker burnout and well-being.
Upcoming Opportunities/Events
Dec. 14, 2023 2 p.m. ET Webinar: The Role of Faith-based Health & Human Service Providers in Shaping Policy to Advance Health and Opportunity - Lutheran Services in America
Join Lutheran Services in America for a conversation with Dr. John J. Dilulio and Dr. Stanley Carlson-Thies, who were instrumental in setting up the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives under the Administration of George W. Bush and reconstituting it under the Obama and Biden administrations. Their continued thought leadership informs current debate about how to make faith-based, community-driven solutions at the heart of our national response to poverty.
Jan. 29-30, 2024 Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) 2.0 Training Pilot Test Apply by Dec. 15, 11:59 p.m. ET.
NACCHO is seeking a group of 35 participants to participate in the training pilot. Local health department staff and other public health partners, including those who plan to use MAPP 2.0 for their future community health improvement process, and those with AND without previous MAPP experience are invited to apply. The purpose of this pilot test is to assist NACCHO in making final revisions to the curriculum.
January - August 2024 ECHO Learning Series by HHS Administration for Community Living (ACL)
The HHS Administration for Community Living (ACL) is inviting hospitals, health systems, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to a special series of learning events and discussions around collaborative approaches to screening for health–related social needs (HRSN), connecting with community-based social services, and supporting transitions pre- and post-discharge.
The monthly meeting series and peer discussion groups will run from January through August 2024. The goal is to leverage community partnerships and assets to address patient's unmet health-related social needs. This learning opportunity uses the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Model®, an "all teach, all learn" approach to peer-based learning. Participating teams will learn from leaders with successful approaches to HRSN screening, referral, and care transition programs and be equipped with actionable strategies to implement in their own organizations. To participate in the virtual ECHO series, hospitals should have an interest in or already have a formal or informal relationship with a local CBO that serves older adults and people with disabilities. ACO partners are also invited to participate as the series will address team-based approaches to care management and community health integration post-discharge. Hospitals seeking a CBO partner will receive support in identifying one. Recommended attendees may include case managers, discharge planning staff, quality measurement professionals, and senior leadership overseeing population health.
If your organization is interested in participating, please complete this brief survey prior to Jan. 12, 2024 to indicate interest: ACL Care Transitions ECHO (smartsheet.com). If you have any questions or would like support identifying a CBO partner, please contact caretransitions@lewin.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
May 7-9, 2024 Accelerating Health Equity Conference, Kansas City, MO
The American Hospital Association conference brings together people working in community benefit, DEI and population health to examine how to address the impacts of structural racism and social determinants of health in their communities. CHA is a sponsor of this meeting and will be hosting a pre-conference session on community benefit. We will also be hosting a networking lunch for CHA members.
May 1-3, 2024 Communities Joined in Action National Conference, Albuquerque, NM
Themed "Inspiring Health, Equity, and Well-being," this conference unites community health stakeholders, including hospitals and community organizations. Join CHA at the breakout session, Hospital Community Benefit: A partner in improving community health.
