What is a hospital community benefit?
In Connecticut, a hospital community benefit is any voluntary program or activity by a hospital to:
- Promote preventive health care
- Protect health and safety
- Improve health equity and reduce health disparities
- Reduce the cost and economic burden of poor health
- Improve health for all populations in the hospital’s service areas
Examples include:
- Providing free or discounted care: This may include services for uninsured or underinsured patients, health screenings, and educational programs.
- Addressing health disparities: Hospitals may focus on specific populations facing health challenges, such as low-income families, minorities, or the elderly.
- Partnering with community organizations: Hospitals collaborate with local groups to address broader health concerns, like promoting healthy lifestyles or preventing chronic diseases.
Hospitals provide these programs to:
- Help create a healthier environment for everyone in Connecticut
- Maintain non-profit status by fulfilling their charitable mission
All for-profit and nonprofit hospitals report their community benefit activities to the Office of Health Strategy (OHS) every year. This encourages hospitals to prioritize community needs.