Scripps Invests $53.5 Million Into Community Benefits in North County
Scripps Encinitas’ contribution included $4.2 million in charity care in FY 15
Scripps Health, through Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, invested $53.5 million into community benefit programs and services in coastal North County during fiscal year 2015.
The nonprofit health system recently released its 2016 Community Benefit Report detailing its community benefit activities for fiscal year 2015 (October 2014 through September 2015). Across San Diego County, Scripps invested $353.6 million into community benefit programs. 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, Scripps also invested in training for new physicians, health screenings, health education, support groups, blood drives and other important community needs through Scripps Encinitas.
“Our commitment to the San Diego community continues as strong as ever with thousands of employees, physicians and volunteers working together to meet our patients’ needs,” said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO. “Scripps is proud to continue our legacy of making a vital and measurable difference in the communities that we serve.”
Meeting community needs in North County
Scripps divides community benefit services into three categories: uncompensated health care, community health improvement services and professional education and health research.
Uncompensated care accounted for the largest portion of Scripps’ community benefit efforts throughout San Diego County, more than $316 million in fiscal 2015.
At Scripps Encinitas, uncompensated care came close to $53 million, including:
- $48.3 million in under-reimbursed care (underpayment from Medi-Cal, Medicare and other government programs).
- $4.2 million in charity care (for people without insurance who did not qualify for government assistance).
- More than $350,000 in bad debt (failure to pay by patients whose health care was not classified as charity care).
Scripps Encinitas also invested close to $518,000 in professional education and health research, including support for nursing programs at California State University San Marcos and Palomar College. It devoted close to $24,000 toward community health services including prevention and wellness programs such as breast cancer, stroke and brain injury groups. And $73,016 went to community building activities such as the in-lieu of funds program that helps low-income patients with post-discharge needs, including board, medications and transportation.
Meeting community needs in San Diego County
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 2016 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
- Leonel Sanchez
- 858-678-6508
- Sanchez.Leonel@scrippshealth.org
- Follow me: @1LeonelSanchez