MERCY MEDICAL CENTER

MERCY MEDICAL CENTER (HOSPITAL) PROVIDES MEDICAL HEALTH CARE, INCLUDING 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK TRAUMA CENTER SERVICE, TO ALL PATIENTS ACCESSING THE SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF RACE, CREED, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, HANDICAP, AGE OR ABILITY TO PAY. A PATIENT IS CLASSIFIED AS A CHARITY PATIENT BY REFERENCE TO CERTAIN ESTABILISHED POLICIES OF THE HOSPITAL. ESSENTIALLY, THESE POLICIES DEFINE CHARITY SERVICES AS THOSE SERVICES FOR WHICH NO OR NOMINAL PAYMENT IS ANTICIPATED. ADDITIONALLY, EACH HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS ALL PATIENTS WHO ARE COVERED BY GOVERNMENTAL INDIGENT PROGRAMS. SUCH INDIGENT PROGRAMS TYPICALLY REMIT AMOUNTS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN CHARGES. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARIZES THE HOSPITAL'S CARE OF THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED. COSTS IN EXCESS OF MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT (COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES LESS THE AMOUNTS RECEIVED FROM MEDICARE) - $42,540,000; OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFITS (INCLUDES SUBSIDIZED HEALTH SERVICES, FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS) - $3,855,000; FREE SERVICE (TO PATIENTS WHO MEET MERCY'S FREE-SERVICE GUIDELINES) - $4,590,000; COSTS IN EXCESS OF MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT (COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES LESS THE AMOUNTS RECEIVED FROM MEDICAID) - $14,380,000, PHYSICIAN EDUCATION - $(682,000). IN ADDITION, CHARITY CARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE PROVIDED THROUGH MANY REDUCED-PRICE SERVICES AND FREE PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A BONA FIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEED, INCLUDING: A. PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR ARE OFFERED ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY, PRENATAL EDUCATION, DIABETES, MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, AND NUMEROUS OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS OF MEDICAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL NATURE. SPECIALIZED CANCER SEMINARS ARE ALSO OFFERED. B. HOSPITAL MEETING FACILITIES WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY USED WITHOUT CHARGE BY SUCH GROUPS AS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, IOWA BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION, HEALTHY LINN NETWORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS, CATHOLIC LAYMEN, UNITED WAY, CATHERINE MCAULEY CENTER FOR WOMEN, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. M.S. SUPPORT GROUP, EASTERN IOWA ONCOLOGY NURSES SOCIETY, THE IOWA CANCER CONSORTIUM, THE PARENT EDUCATION CONSORTIUM, ARC OF EAST CENTRAL IOWA, AND SEVERAL OTHER GROUPS. C. CONTRIBUTIONS OF APPROXIMATELY 96,986 HOURS TOWARD THE COMMON PURPOSE OF SERVING THE HEALTH CARE OF THE COMMUNITY. THE VALUE OF THESE CONTRIBUTIONS WAS APPROXIMATELY $1,487,000 AND WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH LOWER COSTS.