Scripps Invests $39 Million into Community Benefits in North County
Scripps Encinitas’ contributions include $4.48 million in charity care in FY 2014
Scripps Health, through Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, invested $39 million into community benefit programs and services in coastal North County during fiscal year 2014.
The nonprofit health system recently released its 2015 Community Benefit Report detailing its community benefit activities for fiscal year 2014 (October 2013 through September 2014). A copy of the report is available online at www.scripps.org/communitybenefit
Scripps cares for some of the most vulnerable people in San Diego County, often at low to no cost to them. While the largest portion of its community benefit efforts in coastal North County went toward uncompensated care ($38.3 million), Scripps also invested in training for new physicians, health screenings, health education, support groups, blood drives and other important community needs through Scripps Encinitas.
“Scripps is proud to continue its strong commitment to the San Diego community,” said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO. “Today, more than 16,000 employees, physicians and volunteers continue to build on our rich history and keep the spirit of community service alive by going well beyond the call of duty in providing charity care, educational programs, health screenings and other much-needed services.”
Meeting community needs in North County
At Scripps Encinitas, uncompensated care for 2014 included $33.6 million in under-reimbursed care (underpayment from Medi-Cal, Medicare and other government programs); $4.48 million in charity care (for people without insurance who did not qualify for government assistance); and $208,819 in bad debt (failure to pay by patients whose health care was not classified as charity care).
Scripps Encinitas also invested $603,563 in professional education and health research. It devoted more than $104,000 toward community health services, including community building activities such as the Young Leaders in Health Care for high school students, concussion clinics and prevention and wellness programs such as breast cancer, stroke, brain injury and bereavement support groups.
Meeting community needs in San Diego County
Across the county, Scripps Health invested $373 million into community benefit programs and services during fiscal year 2014. These programs and services accounted for 15.5 percent of the health system’s operating expenses. Scripps provided hospital services to one-quarter of the county’s uninsured patients.
Scripps collaborates with other health systems, community groups and government agencies, as well as business and grassroots organizations to serve the greatest patient population needs and prioritize investments in the health and well-being of the community.
The 2015 Community Benefit Report is the system’s annual response to Senate Bill 697, a 1994 state law that requires private, nonprofit hospitals to document the full range of community benefits they provide on a yearly basis. Scripps takes this legislative requirement a step further by incorporating community benefit activities from throughout the system, including Scripps’ five acute-care hospital campuses, home health care services, hospice care, wellness centers and clinics.
Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system in San Diego, Calif.
Media Contact
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