Cindy DuPree, partner at Draffin & Tucker, LLP, was quoted in the article, “Tax-Exempt Hospitals Expected to Focus on Community,” that appeared in the April 2012 issue of Healthcare Finance News.
In the article, Cindy says that in order for charitable hospitals and health systems to help improve their communities’ healthcare needs while also retaining their tax-exempt status with the IRS, they must perform community health needs assessments with input from the community, report to the community on these assessments and maintain policies and procedures for providing medical care and financial assistance to people who are medically underserved, low-income, among minority populations and who have chronic diseases.
The requirements, which fall under Section 501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code, mean that qualifying hospitals must also develop and document strategies in order to implement community health needs assessments and related activities. Cindy said that by the end of 2012, every charitable healthcare organization will need to be in compliance with the regulations or they face a $50,000 fine for each year they were not in compliance starting in 2013. The assessments and written policies must also be done every three years.
To read the full article, please click here.
For more information on community health needs assessments, please contact Cindy Dupree at cdupree@draffin-tucker.com.