PART I, LINE 7:
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COST IS DERIVED FROM THE ACTUAL EXPENSE DATA ACCUMULATED WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM, INC. ("UHS") GENERAL LEDGER WHICH ADDRESSES ALL PATIENT SEGMENTS (INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT, EMERGENCY ROOM, PRIVATE INSURANCE, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, UNINSURED, AND SELF-PAY). UHS ALLOCATES THOSE EXPENSES TO ALL PATIENT SEGMENTS AT THE PROCEDURE LEVEL BASED ON A COST TO CHARGE RATIO AND AGGREGATES THE EXPENSES AT THE PATIENT LEVEL.
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PART I, LINE 7, COLUMN (F):
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THE BAD DEBT EXPENSE INCLUDED ON FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 25, COLUMN (A), BUT SUBTRACTED FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING THE PERCENTAGE IN THIS COLUMN IS $ 55,048,897.
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PART II, COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES:
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THE ACTIVITIES REPORT IN PART II SEEK TO ACHIEVE SPECIFICED OBJECTIVES, INCLUDING: IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES, ENHANCING PUBLIC HEALTH, AND RELIEF OF GOVERNMENT BURDEN. THE ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, FOCUSING ON LOW-INCOME CONSUMERS.
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PART III, LINE 4:
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TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNTS REPORTED IN PART III, LINES 2 AND 3, UHS USES ACTUAL EXPENSE DATA ACCUMULATED BY PATIENT WITHIN THE TRENDSTAR SYSTEM BASED ON A COST TO CHARGE RATIO.THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF BAD DEBT EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PATIENTS ELIGIBLE UNDER UHS'S CHARITY CARE POLICY CONSISTS OF ALL BAD DEBT ACCOUNTS WHEREBY THE PATIENTS:1. DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE APPROPRIATE TNCARE OR CHARITY CARE APPLICATIONS (IF THEY FOLLOWED THROUGH CHARITY MAY HAVE BEEN GRANTED).2. HAD TNCARE COVERAGE BUT NOT AT THE TIME OF SERVICE. (A MAJORITY WERE PATIENTS DISRENROLLED BY THE TNCARE PROGRAM. THESE PATIENTS NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH REAPPLYING FOR TNCARE OR CHARITY CARE).3. LIABILITY AMOUNTS REMAINED UNPAID AFTER THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PAID AND THEY NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH CHARITY APPLICATION.THE TEXT OF THE UHS AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS READS: "NET PATIENT SERVICE REVENUE IS REPORTED AT ESTIMATED NET REALIZABLE AMOUNTS FROM PATIENTS, THIRD-PARTY PAYORS, AND OTHERS FOR SERVICES RENDERED AND INCLUDES ESTIMATED RETROACTIVE REVENUE ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO FUTURE AUDITS, REVIEWS, AND INVESTIGATIONS. RETROACTIVE ADJUSTMENTS ARE CONSIDERED IN THE RECOGNITION OF REVENUE ON AN ESTIMATED BASIS IN THE PERIOD THE RELATED SERVICES ARE RENDERED, AND SUCH AMOUNTS ARE ADJUSTED IN FUTURE PERIODS AS ADJUSTMENTS BECOME KNOWN OR AS YEARS ARE NO LONGER SUBJECT TO SUCH AUDITS, REVIEWS, AND INVESTIGATIONS. ON THE BASIS OF HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE, A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF UHS' UNINSURED PATIENTS WILL BE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED. THEREFORE, UHS RECORDS A SIGNIFICANT PROVISION FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS RELATED TO UNINSURED PATIENTS. THIS PROVISION FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS IS PRESENTED ON THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AS A COMPONENT OF NET PATIENT REVENUE."UHS PROVIDES CARE TO PATIENTS WHO MEET CRITERIA UNDER ITS CHARITY CARE POLICY WITHOUT CHARGE OR AT AMOUNTS LESS THAN ITS ESTABLISHED RATES. UHS DOES NOT REPORT AS NET REVENUE THE CHARGES THAT QUALIFY AS CHARITY CARE BECAUSE UHS DOES NOT PURSUE COLLECTION OF THOSE AMOUNTS.
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PART III, LINE 8:
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THE MEDICARE ALLOWABLE COST REPORTED IN THE UHS MEDICARE COST REPORT, AS REFLECTED IN THE AMOUNT REPORTED IN PART III, LINE 6, IS DERIVED FROM THE ACTUAL EXPENSE DATA FROM THE UHS GENERAL LEDGER. UHS ALLOCATES THOSE EXPENSES TO PATIENTS AT THE PROCEDURE LEVEL BASED ON A COST TO CHARGE RATIO.THE SHORTFALL OF $1,881,697 AS REPORTED IN PART III, LINE 7, SHOULD BE TREATED AS A COMMUNITY BENEFIT BECAUSE, ABSENT THE MEDICARE PROGRAM, IT IS LIKELY MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WOULD QUALITY FOR CHARITY CARE OR OTHER NEEDS-BASED GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. BY ACCEPTING PAYMENT BELOW COST TO TREAT THESE INDIVIDUSALS, THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT ARE RELIEVED WITH RESPECT TO THESE INDIVIDUALS. IRS REVENUE RULING 69-545, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT STANDARD FOR NONPROFIT HOSPITALS, STATES THAT IF A HOSPTIAL SERVES PATIENTS WITH GOVERNMENT HEALTH BENEFITS, INCLUDING MEDICARE, THEN THIS IS AN INDICATION THAT THE HOSPITAL OPERATES TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. ALSO, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT POSSIBILITY THAT CONTINUED REDUCTION IN REIMBURSEMENT MAY ACTUALLY CREATE DIFFICULTIES IN ACCESS FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND THE AMOUNT SPENT TO COVER THE MEDICARE SHORTALL IS MONEY NOT AVAILABLE TO COVER CHARITY CARE AND OTHER COMMUNITY BENEFIT NEEDS.
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PART III, LINE 9B:
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IT IS THE POLICY OF UHS TO PURSUE COLLECTION OF PATIENT BALANCES FROM PATIENTS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES. IF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IS APPROVED, THE PATIENT ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE WILL SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE PATIENT TO INFORM HIM/HER OF APPROVAL OR PROVIDE OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. IF APPROVED FOR AN ADJUSTMENT, THE PATIENT ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE WILL SUBMIT THE INFORMATION TO PATIENT ACCOUNTS, WHO WILL PROCESS THE WRITE-OFF OR OTHER DISCOUNTS. THE ORGANIZATION'S COLLECTION POLICY CONTAINS PROVISIONS ON THE COLLECTION PRACTIES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE KNOWN TO QUALIFY FOR CHARITY CARE OR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS COLLECTION PRACTIES THAT APPLY TO ALL PATIENTS, CHARITY CARE AND NON-CHARITY CARE PATIENTS, CONSITENTLY AND FAIRLY REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS. THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MEDICAL CENTER ("MEDICAL CENTER"), AS A TRAUMA CENTER, OFTEN TREATS PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD AN UNPLANNED CATASTROPHIC HEALTHCARE OCCURRENCE. PATIENTS MAY HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY ONLY A PORTION OF THE ENTIRE COST. ALLOWANCES ARE MADE TO ADJUST THEIR HIGH BALANCES TO A MORE MANAGEABLE PAYOFF AMOUNT. WE UTILIZE AN INCOME CRITERION TO ADJUST A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE BALANCE AS A CHARITY DISCOUNT. PATIENT ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES DILIGENTLY WORK WITH PATIENTS AND EVALUATE NEW INFORMATION LEARNED DURING THE COLLECTION PROCESS TO DETERMINE IF COLLECTION ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE CEASED OR IF THE PATIENT QUALIFIES FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
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PART VI, LINE 2:
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UHS SUPPORTS AND STRENGTHENS OUR KEY COMMUNITIES THROUGH DELIVERING NEEDED SERVICES BY LEADING AND PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT HIGH PRIORITY HEALTH ISSUES. THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE ("CHAS") ANALYZES MULTIPLE SOURCES OF HEALTH STATUS, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND SOCIOECONOMIC INFORMATION TO IDENTIFY KEY COMMUNITIES, PRIORITIZE SPECIFIC POPULATION NEEDS, AND DETERMINE THE FOCUS FOR UHS INVOLVEMENT. THE CHAC REVIEWS AND FORMULATES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT FOR IDENTIFIED NEEDS. THE CHAC TEAM LEVERAGES OUR CORE COMPETENCIES TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND ACTION PLANS TO ADDRESS THESE PRIORITIES. THE CHAC MONITORS PROGRESS THROUGH ACTION PLANS AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND REPORTS RESULTS QUARTERLY TO SENIOR LEADERS AND TO THE CHAC.IN COLLBORATION WITH OUR LOCAL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE PROGRAMS, A COLLABORATION WAS FORMED TO BRING TOGETHER HEALTH CARE PROVDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAKE UP OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM AND SERVICES TO GUIDE OUR COMMUNITY IDENTIFY AND TAKE ACTION ON PRIORITY HEALTH ISSUES. TOGETHER HEALTHY KNOX PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL PROGRAMMATIC AND FISCAL DECISION-MAKING AND INFORMS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGIC COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN. UHS UTILIZES DATA OBTAINED DURING THIS ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE DELIVERY OF SELECT SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. UHS' IMPACT OF SUPPORT IS DETERMINED THROUGH A COMMUNITY BENEFIT DATABASE ANALYSIS OF DISBURSEMENTS AND ANNUAL PROCESS REVIEW.
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PART VI, LINE 3:
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TO COMMUNICATE THE HOSPITAL'S FINANCIAL POLICY TO THE PATIENT, THE "UNDERSTANDING YOUR HOSPITAL BILL" BROCHURE IS MADE AVAILABLE AT ALL POINTS OF REGISTRATION (INTAKE AND PROCESS) AND FINANCIAL COUNSELORS ALONG WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS SPECIFIC CASES. THE BROCHURE INSTRUCTS THE PATIENT TO CONTACT THE FINANCIAL COUNSELOR OR PATIENT ACCOUNTS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CHARITY AND OTHER APPLICABLE DISCOUNTS. FINANCIAL COUNSELORS VISIT PATIENT ROOMS WHEN POSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN THE UHS BILLING PROCESS, PAYMENT PLANS AND SCREENS FOR ASSISTANCE SUCH AS TENNCARE, VICTIM OF CRIME OR CHARITY WRITE-OFF. FINANCIAL COUNSELORS SCREEN ADMISSIONS FOR TRUE HARDSHIP CASES THAT SHOULD BE REVIEWED FOR CHARITY AND CLEARLY STATE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TO THE PATIENT. THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITY CARE POLICY (A PATIENT-FRIENDLY SUMMARY) AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTACT INFORMATION IS POSTED IN THE ADMISSIONS AREAS, EMERGENCY AREAS, AND OTHER AREAS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FACILITIES IN WHICH ELIGIBLE PATIENTS MAY BE PRESENT, AS WELL AS ON OUR WEBSITE. POLICIES ARE ALSO POSTED IN SPANISH DUE TO THE HIGH VOLUMES OF SPANISH-SPEAKING PATIENTS. THE MAJORITY OF STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH PATIENT CONTACT ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE CHARITY CARE POLICY.
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PART VI, LINE 4:
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UHS' KEY COMMUNITIES ARE DEFINED BY OUR DEMOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS WITHIN A 21 COUNTY REGIONAL SERVICE AREA. KNOX COUNTY IS CONSIDERED OUR PRIMARY SERVICE AREA WHERE OUR ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER RESIDES. SURROUNDING COUNTIES, SUCH AS ANDERSON, SEVIER, BLOUNT, LOUDON, JEFFERSON, AND HAMBLEN COUNTIES ARE SUPPORTED BY OUR NETWORK OF PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS, SPECIALISTS, AND OTHER CLINICAL SERVICES. UHS' KEY COMMUNITIES INCLUDE THE UNDERSERVED AND DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS, PRIORITIZED BY THOSE WITH THE GREATEST NEED FOR SERVICES.UHS IDENTIFIES ITS KEY COMMUNITIES AND DETERMINES AREAS FOR ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT BY THE CHAC AND UHS TEAM MEMBER ANALYSIS OF STATE, LOCAL, AND REGIONAL HEALTH STATISTICAL DATA. UHS HAS MANY PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT AND BENEFIT HIGH PRIORITY AND KEY COMMUNITEIS WHICH INCLUDES:-HEALTH LIVING KITCHEN PROVIDES NUTRIONAALLY BASED EDUCATION CLASSES AND TEACHES INDIVIDUALS HOW TO COOK HEALTHY TO IMPROVE HEALTH STATUS AND MANAGE DIETS WHICH LESSENS THE IMPACT OF CHRONIC DISEASE, SUCH AS DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS.-COMMUNITY AND WORKSITE BASED HEALTH SCREENINGS AND EDUCATION FOR CANCER, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, OBESITY, AND HYPERLIPIDEMIA.-RESPIRATORY THERAPY PARTNERS WITH COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH STAFF TO IMPLEMENT SMOKING CESSATION AND PREVENTATION PROGRAMS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.-BREAST HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM (BHOP) WHICH PROVIDES MOBILE BREAST SCREENINGS TO DISADVANTAGED POPULATIONS THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP EFFORT WITH SUSAN G. KOMEN AND AVON FOUNDATIONS.-CANCER INSTITUTE PROVIDES PROSTATE AND SKIN CANCER EDUCATION AND SCREENINGS.-REGIONAL INFANT MORTALITY REDUCTION TASK FORCE WHICH IS COMPOSED OF THE MEDICAL CENTER TEAM MEMBERS, PUBLIC HEALTH ENTITIES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
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PART VI, LINE 5:
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UHS USES MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS AND ATA TO SUPPORT SOCIETAL WELL-BEING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. OUR CORE COMPETENCIES ARE PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INNOVATION, WHILE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS. UHS CONSIDERS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN PROJECT ANALYSIS AND DAILY OPERATIONS. SEVERAL STRATEGIES TO CONSERVE ENERGY AND RECYCLE PAPER ARE IMPLEMENTED AND EVIDENCED THROUGHOUT OUR CAMPUS AND DAILY ACTIVITIES.UHS ACTIVITY PARTICIPATES IN KNOXVILLE AREA PROJECT ACCESS ("KAPA"), AN INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY APPROACH THROUGH WHICH THE MEDICAL CENTER'S PHYSICIANS AND SPECIALISTS PROVIDE CARE FOR THOSE IN OUR SERVICE AREA WHO ARE WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO PAY. KAPA IS A PHYSICIAN-LED COMMUNITY EFFORT AND WAS CREATED AS A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE PLAN TO HELP PATIENTS WHO STRUGGLE EVERYDAY WITH THE CHALLNEGES OF POVERTY, HAVE NO ACCESS TO EMPLOYER-SPONSORED OR GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED INSURANCE PROGRAMS, AND HAVE AN INCOME OF 200% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL OR BELOW.THE INTERFAITH HEALTH CLINIC PROVIDES PRIMARY CARE SERVICES TO A SEGMENT OF THE COMMUNITY THAT IS IN NEED - THE WORKING UNINSURED. THEY SERVE THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR TENNCARE AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE. UHS IS PROUD TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH INTERFAITH HEALTH CLINIC SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY EFFORT WHICH BEGAN IN 1991. WE HAVE OFFERED OUR SUPPORT BOTH FINANCIALLY AND THROUGH GIFTS OF IN-KIND SERVICES.IN KEEPING WITH OUR MISSION TO SERVE THROUGH HEALING, EDUCATION, AND DISCOVERY, WE ALSO VALUE THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO IMPEDED CHRONIC DISEASE DEVELOPMENT. UHS USES NATIONAL AND STATE HEALTH POLICY AND LOCAL COUNTY STATISTICAL DATA WHEN AVAILABLE TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY SPECIFIC HEALTH PRIORITIES WITHIN THE REGION SUCH AS HIGH SMOKING LEVELS, CANCER RATES, HEART DISEASE, AND DIABETES. WE REVALIDATE OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BASED ON MARKET INFORMATION, FOCUS GROUPS, STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, AND COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO ALIGN OUR CRITERIA THAT WILL BE USED TO SUPPORT OUR INVOLVEMENT. UTILIZING THE INFORMATION AND DATA COLLECTED FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES, UHS IDENTIFIES RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATONAL ALLIANCES LOCALLY TO FORM RESOURCE PARTNERSHIPS TO INITIATE A PROCESS TO ADDRESS THE PRIORITIES OF NEED. WE SOLICIT REQUESTS FROM SERVICE LINE LEADERS TO ENSURE THAT WE IDENTIFY WHAT WE AS AN ORGANIZATION DESIRE TO SUPPORT AND EVALUATE ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY WHEN A NEED IS IDENTIFIED.THE MEDICAL CENTER HAS POSITIONED ITSELF TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE BY OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, SUBDIVISIONS OF RESPONSBILITY, AND ALIGNMENT OF OUR MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES, OUR CORE COMPETENCIES, OUR CENTS OF EXCELLENCE FOCUSED PRIORITIES, AND INTEGRATION OF OUR SUPPORT INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH COLLBORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS.SENIOR LEADERS AND TEAM MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING COMMUNITIES AND BUILDING COMMUNITY HEALTH BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS. SENIOR LEADERS PERSONALLY SERVE ON COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARDS AND LEAD COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES INCLUDING GOVERNMENT, COMPETITORS, NOT-FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND FOUNDATION.ADDITIONALLY, PLEASE REFER TO THE STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY BENEFIT AS PROVIDED IN SCHEDULE O FOR FURTHER DOCUMENTATION REGARDING UHS' COMMITTMENT WITHIN ITS COMMUNITY.
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PART VI, LINE 6:
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UHS IS CURRENTLY AFFILIATED WITH EAST TENNESSEE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN PROVIDING JOINT HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION OF OUR REGION. UHS PARTNERS WITH SEVERAL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND WELLBEING
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PART VI, LINE 7, REPORTS FILED WITH STATES
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TN
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