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Our Contributions
For calendar year 2006, John Muir Health's un-sponsored community benefit contributions were $23,175,306 and are summarized here:
In addition John Muir Health provided care to Medicare inpatients and outpatients whose costs exceeded payments made by the Medicare Program. The Medicare shortfall is not included in the above total. The focus of our Community Benefits program is the vulnerable populations. 70% of our total contribution was spent on programs for vulnerable populations in 2006.
Charity Policy; Our Policy of Assistance
John Muir Health has a number of programs to help our patients with their medical bills for services they receive at one of our medical centers. These programs include assistance to establish eligibility for a number of insurance programs, extended payment plans and a Patient Assistance Program to absorb part or all of the bill based on income and other program guidelines. For more information about our Patient Assistance Program, please contact the Business Office at: (925) 947-3336.
Click here to read our Policy.
Charity Care
John Muir Health provides care to every patient who comes in to one of our Emergency Departments, regardless of his or her ability to pay for that care. If our patients find themselves needing help witht heir bills from one of our medical centers, they can apply for the John Muir Health Patient Assistance program. If they meet the programs qualifying guidelines, part or all of their bill is absorbed by the medical center as charity care. The amount on the chart reflects the total charges which were absorbed by John Muir Health through our Patient Assistance Program.
Medi-Cal Shortfall
We provide care for patients who participate in government-sponsored programs such as Medi-Cal. The payment we receive from these programs rarely covers the full cost of services provided to these patients. As a community benefit, John Muir Health absorbs the difference between the cost (not charges) and the payment. In addition, Medicare does not cover all the health care costs for patients over 65 years old. The Medicare costs are not included here.
Subsidized Health Services
These services are underwritten by John Muir Health. In some cases services are provided by John Muir Health even at a loss because the service is only available to the community at JMH. We consider these losses a community benefit. Subsidized services include the Emergency Medical Services ambulance base station for the county at the Walnut Creek campus and the Behavioral Health Center in Concord.
Health Improvement
John Muir Health supports a wide range of activities and resources that promote health and wellness, including health education, libraries, health fairs, screenings and support groups. The John Muir Community Health Alliance brings to the community an array of resources from John Muir Health, including health care professionals, mobile health services, and information and education services. The John Muir Community Health Alliance also works in partnership with local communities, other nonprofit health systems, public health providers, nonprofit organizations and school districts to identify and address unmet health needs among uninsured and underserved populations.
Community Building
This includes workforce development and community collaborative development. It includes John Muir Health support for the Monument Community Partnership.
Financial and In-Kind Contributions, Grants
The John Muir/Mt. Diablo Community Health Fund is a unique grant program that provides funds for health projects and initiatives conducted by community-based organizations. With an annual contribution of over $1 million from John Muir Health, and through partnerships with other grant making foundations, the Community Health Fund focuses on ways to achieve fundamental improvements in the health status of uninsured, underserved and overlooked families, children and seniors. Also included in this area are grants to fund instructors for nursing and other health careers, donations to community based-organizations focusing on diseases such as heart, cancer, stroke and diabetes and in-kind donations of supplies, facilities and staff time.
Health Professions Education and Research
Community benefits also include education and research programs such as diabetic drug clinical trials and formal education programs in the areas of nursing, physical therapy, ultrasound technology, radiologic technology, rehabilitation and clinical pastoral care.
Community Benefits Operations
A small dedicated staff manages the Community Health Alliance and the Community Health Fund.