| Form 990, Part III, Line 4A-4D |
I. Introduction A. About Kaiser Permanente Founded in 1942 to serve employees of Kaiser Industries and opened to the public in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is recognized as one of Americas leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans. We were created to meet the challenge of providing American workers with medical care during the Great Depression and World War II, when most people could not afford to go to a doctor. Since our beginnings, we have been committed to helping shape the future of healthcare. Among the innovations Kaiser Permanente has brought to U.S. health care are: - Prepaid health plans, which spread the cost to make it more affordable - A focus on preventing illness and disease as much as on caring for the sick - An organized, coordinated system that puts as many services as possible under one roof - all connected by an electronic medical record. Kaiser Permanente is an integrated health care delivery system comprised of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (KFH), Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (KFHP), and physicians in the Permanente Medical Groups. Today we serve more than 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. B. Kaiser Permanentes Approach to Community Health For 75 years, Kaiser Permanente has been dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable health care services and to improving the health of our members and the communities we serve. We believe good health is a fundamental right shared by all and we recognize that good health extends beyond the doctors office and the hospital. It begins with healthy environments: fresh fruits and vegetables in neighborhood stores, successful schools, clean air, accessible parks, and safe playgrounds. Good health for the entire community requires equity and social and economic well-being. These are the vital signs of healthy communities. Better health outcomes begin where health starts, in our communities. Like our approach to medicine, our work in the community takes a prevention-focused, evidence-based approach. We go beyond traditional corporate philanthropy or grant making to pair financial resources with medical research, physician expertise, and clinical practices. Our community health strategy focuses on three areas: - Ensuring health access by providing individuals served at Kaiser Permanente or by our safety-net partners with integrated clinical and social services; - Improving conditions for health and equity by engaging members, communities, and Kaiser Permanentes workforce and assets; and - Advancing the future of community health by innovating with technology and social solutions. C. Kaiser Permanentes Total Contribution Kaiser Permanente provided $3.4 billion in community benefits in 2019. The amounts attributable to Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia is $72.3 million as follows: - Financial Assistance at cost - $53.6 million - Medicaid - $11.2 million - Community health improvement services and community benefit operations $3.1 million - Health Professions Education - $496,000 - Research - $1.3 million - Cash and in-kind contributions from community benefit - $2.7 million In addition to our direct spend on community benefits, we also leverage assets from across Kaiser Permanente to help us achieve our mission to improve the health of communities. This "Total Health" strategy includes our widely recognized activities around supplier diversity, socially responsible investing and environmental stewardship. II. Ensure Health Access A. Summary of The Strategy Ensuring health access means serving those most in need of health care through Medicaid, medical financial assistance, charitable health coverage, and other forms of subsidized care and coverage. It also means connecting people with wrap-around social services, healthy meals, affordable homes, safe playgrounds, and supportive schools. For many low-income people without access to health care coverage, or for those who lose their jobs and cant maintain health care coverage, an emergency room is often the only place they receive care. At Kaiser Permanente, were working to change that with programs that lower financial barriers by providing deeply subsidized health coverage and medical financial assistance for care. We also provide information about how to access and qualify for public programs such as Medicaid and financial assistance through the marketplace to individuals who may be eligible. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia supports the health access needs of our communities through a combination of coverage and care programs. We provide coverage to low income populations through two key vehicles: first, via our participation in government programs like Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), and second, via our own Charitable Health Coverage (CHC) program, which provides a premium subsidy for Kaiser Permanente coverage for qualified low-income families and children who do not have access to public or private health coverage. Similarly, we provide care to low-income populations through two key vehicles: first, via our treatment of Medicaid and CHIP enrollees (not assigned to Kaiser Permanente), and second, via the Medical Financial Assistance (MFA) program, which is Kaiser Permanentes traditional charity care or financial assistance program (FAP). For Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and all of its subsidiary health plans, the main way to address health access challenges is by absorbing the cost of the coverage and care programs described above. In 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia spent a total of $64.8 million on our coverage and care programs (at cost, net of all related revenues). B. Coverage Having health coverage means consistent access to comprehensive and continuous medical and preventative services for people to get and stay healthy, a much better alternative to episodic care at emergency departments. Coverage is good for the patient, good for Kaiser Permanente and good for the US overall because it helps people get and stay healthy and avoid costly hospital services. i. Coverage provided through Medicaid, CHIP and other government programs The Affordable Care Act has had a far-reaching impact on the landscape of government-sponsored programs, as these options have become a key source of health coverage for a significant portion of the US population. Kaiser Permanente has responded to this challenge by developing organizational strategies to enable low-income individuals to obtain and/or retain health coverage through Medicaid, CHIP or other government programs, even as their personal or financial circumstances may be changing. At the end of 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia was providing benefits to approximately 24,000 people through its Medicaid Managed Care contracts with other health plans. ii. Coverage provided through CHC CHC is a unique approach to caring for low-income uninsured persons in the community. The program provides a premium subsidy for a KFHP off exchange plan to low income individuals and families who are not eligible for other public or privately sponsored coverage. Eligible participants receive a regular KFHP membership card and have access to the same services and providers as other KFHP individual and family plan members. CHC members also receive cost sharing support that eliminates out of pocket costs for most covered services provided at Kaiser Permanente facilities. CHC provides individuals/families who would otherwise not have access to coverage, consistent access through the "front door" of the health delivery system, including a medical home and preventive services, better alternatives than episodic care. At the end of 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia was providing coverage to approximately 2,500 people through the CHC program. |
| C. Care |
To get and/or stay healthy, people need access to high quality care by providers they trust. This care must include preventative services and required medications so that people can avoid ending up in the emergency room or requiring more extensive services down the line. Kaiser Permanente helps low income populations gain access to this type of care by leveraging the full scope of its integrated delivery system, including not only critical hospital-based services but also outpatient primary, specialty and pharmacy services. i. Care provided through Medicaid, CHIP and other government programs Kaiser Permanente provides a wide range of health care services to individuals enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP and other government programs, regardless of whether they are assigned to Kaiser Permanente or not. In addition to the individuals who received health coverage in 2019 due to Kaiser Permanentes participation in these government programs, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia also subsidized care to people who are enrolled in these programs but not formally assigned to Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. ii. Care subsidized by MFA Medical Financial Assistance program (MFA) helps low-income, uninsured, and underserved patients receive access to care. The program provides temporary financial assistance or free care to patients who receive health care services from our providers, regardless of whether they have health coverage or are uninsured. The MFA program is one of the most generous in the health care industry and is available to those patients in greatest need. Eligibility is based on financial need. In general, patients whose household income is at or below 200 percent, and in some regions up to 400 percent, of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the MFA program. Patients who are experiencing high medical expenses as compared to their income may be eligible under high medical expenses criteria, regardless of household income. The MFA program covers emergency and medically necessary health care services, pharmacy services and products, and medical supplies provided at Kaiser Permanente facilities (i.e. hospitals, medical centers, and medical office buildings), at Kaiser Permanente outpatient pharmacies, or by Kaiser Permanente providers. Over the course of 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia subsidized care for approximately 56,000 people through the MFA program. D. Social Health: Thrive Local As an integrated health system committed to total health, Kaiser Permanente must not only provide excellent medical care and health services, it must also address social health for Kaiser Permanente members and in our communities. To help address unmet social needs, Kaiser Permanente is deploying Thrive Local in each of its regions. Thrive Local integrates clinical and social care and is supported by data integration and partnerships with community-based organizations. Thrive Local consists of three components: a resource directory that provides current, up-to-date and searchable information on community resources; geographically-based community partner networks of social service organizations; and a technology platform that allows for two-way referrals between health care providers and social care providers. By linking clinical and social care delivery and building social health networks for our members and the communities we serve, Kaiser Permanente is making a bold move to transform health. E. Safety-Net Partnerships Kaiser Permanente is committed to building partnerships with the institutions that serve on the front lines of health care for the unisured and underserved, often referred to as the health care "safety net." Through grants, training, and technical assistance, were working with safety-net hospitals and health centers to help these institutions reach people in our communities who are low-income, uninsured, or under-resourced. Specific example(s) of our efforts in 2019 include: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgias Mobile Health Vehicle (MHV) had a presence at school events, faith-based organizations, community gardening events, college campuses, libraries, apartment complexes, and mobile food pantries. The Mobile Health Vehicle is a mobile clinic staffed by nurses who provide biometric screenings- blood pressure, height, weight, cholesterol and glucose. In addition, patients receive referrals that connect them to valuable social services and other community resources. This program screened 1,410 uninsured and underinsured people at 85 events, enabling the nurses on the Mobile Health Vehicle to provide access to preventive care and referral resources for high-need communities in 7 metro-Atlanta counties including Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Clayton, Henry and Douglas. III. Improve Conditions for Health and Equity A. Summary of the Strategy Healthy individuals need healthy communities, and healthy communities need healthy people to thrive. At Kaiser Permanente, we are working to improve the conditions for health and equity in the community by addressing the root causes of health, such as economic opportunity, affordable housing, safe and supportive schools, and a healthy environment. These improvements grow from our collaboration with each community to co-design and co-create solutions that truly make a positive impact. By engaging members, communities, our sizeable workforce, and all of our organizations considerable assets, we are working to create communities that are among the healthiest in the nation, and inspiring greater health for America and the world. In 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia spent a total of $2.5 million on charitable contributions designed to improve conditions for health and equity. In addition to the charitable contributions awarded to improve conditions for health and equity, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia also provided $141,000 in charitable contributions for other Community Health activities and programs. B. Social Health: Food for Life Kaiser Permanente is tackling the most basic of human needs - food - by helping at-reisk members and communities access the food and nutrition they need to live a full and healthy life. We launched Food for Life to transform the economic, social and policy environments connected to food so that people across the nation have access to, and can afford, healthy food. |
| C. Thriving Schools |
Our efforts to support health in schools are part of how we are advancing our vision for total health - a holistic approach that emphasizes the social, environmental, behavioral, and clinical aspects that shape ones well-being. Schools are passionate about ensuring that all students succeed. They need strong partners to help them address health as part of their strategy. Thats why Kaiser Permanente created Thriving Schools, our all-in engagement to improve health for students, staff, and teachers. Our vision is that every community can count on their school as a champion for good health that enables great learning. Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools is intentional about coordinating our own knowledge and existing work in school health with the good work of others. Through our valued partnerships with some of the countrys most innovative organizations, we are able to provide concrete resources and pathways to health in schools. To create lasting change, we use our voice to advance local, regional, and national policies and a movement to make healthy schools the norm for everyone. A distinguishing feature of Thriving Schools is our complementary focus: we support students, staff, and teachers, and we address their physical, emotional, and social wellness. This approach builds a culture of wellness across the entire school. Specific example(s) of our efforts in 2019 include: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia supported the RISE (Resilience in School Environments) initiative, an enterprise-wide effort with the Alliance for Healthier Generation. RISE is designed to empower schools and districts to create safe and supportive learning environments by cultivating practices that strengthen the social and emotional health of all students and staff, understand and integrate social and emotional well-being into all aspects of school life. In Georgia, 31 schools and 3 districts were recruited in 2019 to participate in RISE onsite program. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia funded a $72,250 grant to the Childrens Museum of Atlanta for the Connected Learning Connected Communities/Spread the Word Workshops program. The effort is designed to improve literacy, nutrition, and science-based knowledge in 14,000 children ages 0-8. Learning sessions will be delivered through classroom visits and workshops to preschools and Pre-K institutions, improved knowledge in adults for developmentally appropriate literacy practices and strategies with children ages zero to five delivered through workshops and field trips, and improved knowledge in educators on the importance of childhood nutrition and development delivered through health education classes. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia funded a $63,750 grant to Georgia Organics for the Georgia Organics Farm to School program. The effort equips and empowers K-12 and Early Care educators to engage students in experiential cooking, gardening and nutrition education programs. While also facilitating the relationship between school nutrition directors and market ready growers in their community to include fresh, local foods in school meals. This effort reaches over 970,000 students in all 27 school districts in the Kaiser Permanente service area. D. Thriving Cities The places where we live, learn, work, and play - our cities and towns, our schools, our homes, our neighborhoods - have an enormous impact on our health. And how we shape those places, through public policy and the support for healthy environments, has the potential to make real, lasting impacts on our surroundings and our everyday quality of life. Through Kaiser Permanentes ongoing partnerships with community organizations, municipal leaders, and public health champions, we are working to incorporate health, equity and sustainability considerations into public policy and the built environment in ways that influence how neighborhoods take shape and grow. Specific example(s) of our efforts in 2019 include: Kaiser Permanente continued as a partner in CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente that advances a package of evidence-based policy solutions that will help millions of people live longer, better lives in vibrant, prosperous communities. CityHealth recognized large cities across the country for specific policies related to health and quality of life, including Pre-K, Tobacco 21, complete streets, smoke-free indoor air, and healthy food procurement. In the policy areas assessed by CityHealth among the 40 largest cities, a total of 35 new policy advances occurred since 2018. Atlanta was recognized by CityHealth for two new policies related to smoke-free indoor air and Pre-K. The citys new smoke-free indoor air policy prohibits smoking in public spaces, restaurants, bars, and workplaces, and it is projected to decrease health impacts associated with tobacco use and exposure. For Pre-K, the Georgia Department of Education made improvements related to teacher professional development, helping to bolster Pre-K quality for young students. For its achievements, Atlanta was awarded an overall silver medal for 2019. Kaiser Permanente supported the passage of the smoke-free indoor air policy by providing testimony and encouraging a strong and comprehensive policy. E. Economic Opportunity Inclusive economic growth is critical to both individual and community health. When there is a lack of economic opportunity in communities, the prospects for upward social mobility are diminished, often resulting in poorer health and higher mortality rates for people living in those communities. By contrast, economic growth and opportunity provides individuals with jobs, income, a sense of purpose, and opportunities to improve their economic circumstances overtime. As a large, influential institution in our communities, Kaiser Permanente recognizes that the way we do business can support economic opportunity in local communities through how we hire, purchase, build our facilities and partner with communities. Some ways that were helping revitalize and grow our communities by strengthening economic opportunity include: - Providing good jobs to individuals facing barriers to employment through high-impact hiring and workforce pipeline efforts. - Pursuing a social impact investment strategy to support impact investments aimed at addressing key social issues that have a significant impact on health. - Purchasing goods and services from local minority- and women-owned businesses and encouraging good employment practices by our vendor partners. - Building new facilities with an emphasis on positive local community impact, including local construction hiring, local and diverse purchasing, healthy and sustainable design features, neighborhood revitalization, and deep community engagement. Specific examples of our efforts in 2019 include: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia partnered with Year Up to place 11 economically disadvantaged young people of color into IT and customer service internships in Atlanta. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia funded a grant for $45,000 to support Year Ups implementation of the student services health & wellness initiative which serves up to 350 metro Atlanta youth participating in the program. Each student participant has access to various programs such as: Group/Individual counseling sessions, seminars, and facilitated peer support sessions. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia continued its partnership with Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School with a $35,000 grant to support their Corporate Work Study program, which provides over 500 economically disadvantaged young people a rigorous college preparatory education combined with four years of relevant corporate work experience in order to prepare students for success in college and in life. This program provides students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and build their professional network at Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser Permanente continued its commitment to source goods and services from the minority, women, veteran, disabled, and LGBTQ-owned business community as a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable. As part of this commitment, we encouraged our own suppliers to also increase their sourcing of goods and services from the minority, women, veteran, disabled, and LGBTQ-owned business community. Furthermore, we also began to measure job creation that resulted from our procurement spending and in 2019, found that our procurement spending led our supplier partners to create new jobs. |
| F. Housing for Health |
Housing stability is a key factor in a persons overall health and well-being. Without a safe, stable place to live, it is nearly impossible to maintain health or sustain health improvements achieved in a medical setting. With homelessness affecting more than 550,000 people every day throughout our country, the need for safe, stable and affordable housing has never been greater. Kaiser Permanente understands the connection between housing and health. Our impact investments aim to create more affordable housing, reduce the displacement of lower- and middle-income households, and end homelessness by ensuring access to supportive housing. Specific example(s) of our efforts in 2019 include: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia partnered with Community Solutions to drive reductions in veteran homelessness in Atlanta, Georgia. Community Solutions is Kaiser Permanentes national partner for ending veteran and chronic homelessness in Kaiser Permanente communities. Community Solutions is a nonprofit that leads Built for Zero, a movement of more than 80 cities and counties using data to radically change how they work and the impact they can achieve; and proving that it is possible to make homelessness rare and brief. In order to propel this movement to end homelessness up and over a tipping point, Community Solutions works with communities to solve the most persistent challenges that stand in the way. This partnership will build on the last two years of work Community Solutions did in Atlanta to get quality data and drive down the numbers of chronically homeless individuals. The focus of this partnership is to understand the challenges with the veteran homeless population in Atlanta and to apply best practice interventions to drive reductions in the numbers. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia funded a $72,250 grant to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, whose mission is to create safe and stable homes and families by inspiring the fight for equal justice. Through the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation's Standing with Our Neighbors program, staff and volunteer attorneys will meet clients where they are, their homes, their schools, their community centers. Through this effort, 125 families or more facing rental housing conditions known to contribute to the incidence of asthma will receive legal representation to improve their unhealthy housing circumstances. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia funded a $45,000 grant to First Step Staffing, Inc. Through First Step Staffing, Inc.s First Steps Disability Services, these funds will provide access to much needed income for basic needs and housing and will connect clients served with healthcare providers to improve health outcomes for some of the region's most vulnerable citizens. Specifically, this funding will support 175 men and women experiencing homelessness to apply for Social Security or Disability Income and will provide a minimum of 100 clients with access to preventative health services while enrolled in the Disability Services program. G. Environmental Stewardship We believe it is our obligation as a health care provider to minimize our environmental impact. We embed efforts to be environmentally responsible throughout our organization in how we power our facilities, purchase food and medical supplies and equipment, manage waste, and invest in our communities. We also prioritize partnerships with others to develop policies and systems that strengthen community health and protect our environment. In 2016, Kaiser Permanente adopted an ambitious set of environmental goals to guide the organization for the decade ahead. These goals have raised the bar on environmental responsibility, not just for Kaiser Permanente but for all health care organizations. Kaiser Permanente pledges that by 2025 it will: - Become "carbon net positive" by buying enough clean energy and carbon offsets to remove more greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere than it emits. - Buy all of its food locally or from farms and producers that use sustainable practices, including using antibiotics responsibly. - Recycle, reuse or compost 100 percent of its non-hazardous waste. - Reduce the amount of water it uses by 25 percent per square foot of buildings. - Increase its purchase of products and materials that meet environmental standards to 50 percent. - Meet international standards for environmental management at all its hospitals. - Pursue new collaborations to reduce environmental risks to the foodsheds, watersheds and air basins supplying its communities Specific example(s) of our efforts in 2019 include: Kaiser Permanente finalized an agreement for a major renewable energy purchase, enabling us to achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral in 2020. Kaiser Permanente dedicated 20% of overall spending on products to items that met our Environmentally Preferable Purchasing standards and dedicated 42% of spending on food to items produced locally or from farms and producers that use sustainable practices, including using antibiotics responsibly. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia dedicated 13% of its overall spending on products to items that met Kaiser Permanentes Environmentally Preferable Purchasing standards and sent 42% of its waste to recycling. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia funded $45,000 to Trees Atlanta, a nonprofit citizens' group dedicated to protecting and improving our urban forest by planting, conserving and educating. The grant will support Trees Atlantas Youth Tree Team and Urban Tree Trackers Program to strengthen community attitudes towards healthy living and sustainability among Atlanta Public School students (K-12) by establishing an appreciation for urban forestry. The grant aims to increase access to mentorship and guidance on post-secondary education preparation, application, and enrollment among low-income youth and increase access to soft skills training and exposure to "green collar" jobs for high school students among low-income youth. IV. Advance the Future of Community Health A. Summary of the Strategy Kaiser Permanente works in partnership with our communities, using our collective knowledge to identify and implement creative solutions to difficult community health problems by: - Inspiring young people to pursue careers in health care - Conducting research to identify and eliminate disparities in care - Advancing health innovation and achieving greater and more equitable health outcomes In 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia spent $1.8 million on programs to advance the future of community health (at cost, net of all related revenues). This included $496,000 in health professionals education and $1.3 million in research. B. Health Professionals Education Our Graduate Medical Education (GME) program provides training and education for medical residents and interns in the interest of educating the next generation of physicians. The nationally acclaimed program attracts some of the top medical school graduates in the United States and serves as a national model by exposing future health care providers to an integrated health care delivery system. Residents are offered the opportunity to serve a large, culturally diverse patient base in a setting with sophisticated technology and information systems, established clinical guidelines and an emphasis on preventive and primary care. In 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia supported 30 interns and residents through the GME program. The majority of medical residents are studying within the primary care medicine areas of family practice, internal medicine, ob/gyn, pediatrics, preventive medicine, and psychiatry. In addition to GME, we provide a range of training and education programs for nurse practitioners, nurses, radiology and sonography technicians, physical therapists, post-graduate psychology and social work students, pharmacists, and other non-physician health professionals. |
| C. Research |
Kaiser Permanente has a long history of conducting health research related to both prevention and treatment of disease that benefits its members, the communities it serves and the nation. Kaiser Permanentes research efforts are core to the organizations mission to improve population health, and its commitment to continued learning. Research activities are conducted at Kaiser Permanentes eight regional research centers and three national groups: Kaiser Permanente Research Bank, Kaiser Permanente Center for Effectiveness & Safety Research; and Utility for Care Data Analysis. In addition, the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute administers and supports research at the research centers. Kaiser Permanente researchers study critical health issues including: cancer, cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, behavioral and mental health, and health care delivery improvement. Kaiser Permanente Research is broadly focused on three themes: understanding health risks; addressing patients needs and improving health outcomes; and informing policy and practice to facilitate the use of evidence-based care. Kaiser Permanente is uniquely positioned to do research due to its rich, longitudinal, electronic clinical databases that capture virtually complete health care delivery, payment, decision-making and behavioral data in detail to support primary, secondary and tertiary clinical care across inpatient, outpatient and emergency department settings for its geographically and demographically diverse members. In 2019, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia engaged in approximately 20 active studies including 6 clinical trials and published approximately 20 journal articles. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgias research center, The Center for Research and Evaluation (CRE) was established in 1998 and focuses on research projects and clinical trials that are aligned with the regions strategic objectives. The centers research portfolio and interests include studies that will help improve the health of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia's members and the communities it serves. These include such topics as ways to help people control chronic pain, or manage a chronic disease, as well as implementation science e.g., testing models of care and implementing and evaluating practice change. Investigators at CRE conduct research on a broad range of topics including chronic disease prevention and treatment; diabetes; cancer; behavioral health; and health services. Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for U.S. adults with end-stage kidney disease. However, only 14% of patients are placed on the deceased donor kidney transplantation waiting list or receive transplants within 1 year of diagnosis. For-profit (vs nonprofit) dialysis facilities have historically had lower kidney transplantation rates, but it is unknown if the pattern holds for living donor and deceased donor kidney transplantation, if it varies by facility ownership, or if it has persisted over time. A study published in JAMA in 2019 by a team from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Research and Evaluation and Emory University in Georgia found that receiving dialysis at for-profit facilities in the U.S. was associated with lower kidney transplantation rates. The study team examined data for 1.5 million patients treated over a 16-year period at 6,500 U.S. dialysis facilities to determine if there was an association between dialysis facility ownership and placement on the deceased donor kidney transplantation waiting list, receipt of a living donor kidney transplant, or receipt of a deceased donor kidney transplant. D. Advancing Innovation Despite our nations best efforts at addressing the myriad of challenges facing the health of our communities, we see that social, economic and health disparities among people continue to grow. At Kaiser Permanente, were trying to shift that paradigm by working to advance conditions for health through the spread of best practices, innovation and technology. Kaiser Permanente works in partnership with our communities, using our collective knowledge to identify and implement creative solutions to difficult community health problems. Using technology as the backbone of our efforts, we are exploring new approaches for accelerating and scaling community health solutions to create greater impact. Together, we are advancing health innovation and achieving greater and more equitable health outcomes. Specific example(s) of our efforts in 2019 include: Kaiser Permanente partnered with The Public Good Projects (PGP) to reduce stigma and raise awareness around mental health conditions. PGPs Action Minded Mental Health campaign has four components which include Therapy Pets, Like One Another, Mental Health Champions, and Community Partners and each component tailors its evidence-based approach to reach a specific audience. PGPs disease surveillance system monitors all publicly available media sources for mentions of mental health topics, and PGP tailors its messaging to address trending mental health topics. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 1a |
- Voting Member and Governing Body - THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, CONSISTING OF THREE DIRECTORS, HAS AUTHORITY TO ACT FOR THE BOARD BETWEEN MEETINGS EXCEPT IT HAS NO AUTHORITY TO: 1. ADOPT, AMEND OR REPEAL BYLAWS. 2. AMEND OR REPEAL ANY RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD WHICH BY ITS EXPRESS TERMS IS NOT SO AMENDABLE OR REPEALABLE. 3. ELECT, APPOINT OR REMOVE DIRECTORS, DESIGNATE COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR FILL VACANCIES IN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR IN ANY SUCH COMMITTEE. 4. DISSOLVE, MERGE OR CONSOLIDATE THE CORPORATION. 5. ADOPT, AMEND OR REPEAL ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. 6. SELL, LEASE, PLEDGE, TRANSFER OR EXCHANGE ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE PROPERTY OF THE CORPORATION. 7. FIX COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS FOR SERVING ON THE BOARD OR ON ANY COMMITTEE. 8. AUTHORIZE ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT TRANSFER OF MONEY OR OTHER PROPERTY OR INCUR ANY INDEBTEDNESS TO OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEMBER OR THE DIRECTORS OR OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION OR TO OR FOR THE BENEFIT OF TRANSFEREES IN LIQUIDATION (OTHER THAN CREDITORS OF THE CORPORATION). 9. TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION WHICH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO TAKE. FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 6 KAISER FOUNDATION HEALTH PLAN, INC. IS THE SOLE MEMBER. Upon dissolution, remaining assets shall be distributed to a 501(c)(3) organization. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 7A |
- Elect Members of The Governing Body - Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. appoints the Board of Directors (and fills vacancies and has authority to remove Directors). |
| FORM 990, PART VI, LINE 7B |
Approval of Certain Governance Decisions The following actions of the corporation require the approval of the member. Typically the member (KFHP, Inc.) would approve actions requiring member approval and the Board of Directors of KFHP-GA also would approve or ratify the action: 1. Removal of the Chairman of the Board, CEO, or any President. The compensation of any President and other executive officers of the corporation shall be approved by the member's Compensation Committee; 2. The sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of, the mortgage, pledge or dedication to the repayment of indebtedness (whether with or wwithout recourse), or any other encumbrance of property of the corporation, or the acquisition of assets, whether or not in the usual or regular course of the corporation's activities, where the fair market value of such corporate property or assets being disposed of, acquired or encumbered exceeds 10% of the value of the assets of the corporation as reflected in the most recent annual or quarterly financial statements that are available on the date immediately preceding the date of the relevant transaction shall require the approval of the member; 3. Capital expenditures that exceed $25 million shall require the approval of the member; 4. The issuance of tax-exempt bonds; 5. Articles C (Member), D (Directors) and H (Amendment and Effect of Bylaws) of the Bylaws may be amended only by the member. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 11B |
- FORM 990 REVIEW PROCESS - 1. KEY INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE TAX RETURN IS OBTAINED AND/OR CONFIRMED WITH INTERNAL SOURCES INCLUDING REGIONAL FINANCE, EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, TREASURY, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, AND LEGAL. 2. PRIOR TO FINALIZATION, THE RETURN IS REVIEWED BY AN EXTERNAL TAX ADVISOR. 3. ONCE SIGNED BY AN EXTERNAL TAX ADVISOR, THE RETURN AND UNDERLYING DATA ARE REVIEWED BY AN OFFICER OR A MEMBER OF MANAGEMENT DESIGNATED BY AN OFFICER FOR SIGNATURE AND FILING. 4. COPIES ARE THEN PROVIDED TO BOARD MEMBERS PRIOR TO FILING. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 12C |
ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE ENFORCEMENT A. REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY MONITORS COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY - KAISER PERMANENTE REGULARLY MONITORS COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY IN 3 KEY WAYS: A1. THE KAISER PERMANENTE COMPLIANCE HOTLINE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES AND VENDORS TO REPORT ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. ALL CALLS ARE ANSWERED BY A THIRD PARTY AND PROVIDED TO KAISER PERMANENTE'S NATIONAL COMPLIANCE OFFICE FOR REVIEW AND APPROPRIATE ACTION. EMPLOYEES CAN REPORT ANONYMOUSLY. RETALIATION IS PROHIBITED. REPORTS OF ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE GENERATED AND INVESTIGATIONS ARE CONDUCTED AS REQUIRED AND INFORMATION IS TRACKED AND TRENDED TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE IS REQUIRED TO AVOID OR MANAGE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. COMPLIANCE HOTLINE REPORTS ARE PROVIDED FOR REVIEW AND ACTION TO THE KAISER FOUNDATION HEALTH PLAN/HOSPITALS BOARDS OF DIRECTORS ANNUALLY. A2.a - ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE ANNUALLY REVIEWS THE DIRECTORS', OFFICERS', KEY EMPLOYEES', AND EXECUTIVES' ANNUAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE DISCLOSURES AND PROVIDES DIRECTION ON ANY INVESTIGATIONS REQUIRED. INVESTIGATIONS ARE DOCUMENTED, TRACKED AND TRENDED TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL CONTROLS OR EDUCATION IS REQUIRED. IN ADDITION, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS ARE PROVIDED FOR REVIEW AND ACTION TO THE KAISER FOUNDATION HEALTH PLAN/HOSPITALS BOARDS OF DIRECTORS ANNUALLY; AND A2.b - ANNUALLY, EMPLOYEES IN ROLES WITH AN ELEVATED RISK OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST COMPLETE A CONFLICTS OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE. RESPONSES ARE REVIEWED AND ASSESSED. WHEN ACTION IS WARRANTED, THE SITUATION IS ADDRESSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH WRITTEN STANDARDS. DOCUMENTATION AND TRACKING IS MAINTAINED IN THE SAME WAY AS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AND KEY EMPLOYEES. A2.c - IN ADDITION TO THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE, ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE RECEIVES, CONSULTS, MONITORS, AND REPORTS ONGOING DISCLOSURES MADE BY EMPLOYEES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A3. ANNUALLY, AS A COMPONENT OF THE EXTERNAL AUDIT, AN OUTSIDE CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM REVIEWS THE ANNUAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRES PROCESS COMPLETED BY DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, KEY EMPLOYEES, AND EXECUTIVES, AND ACTIONS TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE DISCLOSURES. THE RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL AUDIT, INCLUDING ANY FINDINGS IN THIS AREA, ARE PRESENTED TO THE KAISER FOUNDATION HEALTH PLAN/HOSPITALS AUDIT AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE. B. REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY ENFORCES COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY - TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE POLICY KAISER PERMANENTE USES THE FOLLOWING STEPS AS A GENERAL GUIDELINE: B1. REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO ANY CORRECTIVE/DISCIPLINARY ACTION PROVISIONS DESCRIBED IN SPECIFIC REGIONAL/NATIONAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND/OR ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES. B2. KAISER PERMANENTE NOTIFIES EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES POLICY NO. 14. CORRECTIVE/DISCIPLINARY ACTION POLICY DURING NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION AND IN ANNUAL COMPLIANCE TRAINING. B3. IN THE EVENT THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO DISCIPLINE ANY EMPLOYEE BECAUSE OF, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LEGAL/REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS, KAISER PERMANENTE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, OR THE PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBILITY, OR FOR UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE OR MISCONDUCT, COACHING/COUNSELING AND/OR CORRECTIVE/DISCIPLINARY ACTION MAY INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: - ORAL DISCUSSION AND/OR WARNING BY THE EMPLOYEE'S IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR OR HIGHER LEVEL MANAGER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM; - WRITTEN NOTICE, WITH OR WITHOUT FINAL WARNING; - PAID OR UNPAID SUSPENSION, WITH OR WITHOUT FINAL WARNING; - TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 15A/B |
- Compensation Determination - THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM AS ADMINISTERED BY KAISER FOUNDATION HEALTH PLAN, INC. IS DESIGNED TO RECRUIT, RETAIN AND MOTIVATE QUALIFIED SENIOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL. SENIOR MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE STRATEGIC AND POLICY DIRECTION AND RESULTS OF THE ORGANIZATION. THEREFORE, THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM IS, TO A SIGNIFICANT DEGREE, PERFORMANCE-BASED. THE COMPENSATION PROGRAM IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION. PRIOR TO PAYMENT, ALL PROGRAMS AND PAYMENTS TO THE CEO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND TOP MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS (EXECUTIVES) ARE REVIEWED BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ON COMPENSATION. BASE PAY FOR EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IS ESTABLISHED AT A LEVEL COMPARABLE TO THE RELEVANT MARKET. IN ADDITION, OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE COMPENSATION PROGRAM BEAR 'AT-RISK' FEATURES DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT PERFORMANCE GOALS AND TO ASSIST IN ATTRACTING AND RETAINING TOP PERFORMERS. THE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PROGRAM IS TARGETED TO BE COMPETITIVE TO THE COMPARABLE EXTERNAL MARKET IN WHICH THE ORGANIZATION COMPETES FOR EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP. EVALUATION OF COMPARABLE PAY DATA IS PERFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION, BENEFIT & HUMAN RESOURCES CONSULTING FIRM. THE COMPENSATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON OBJECTIVES IN THE AREAS OF QUALITY OF MEMBER CARE AND SERVICE, MEMBERSHIP GROWTH, FINANCIAL SOUNDNESS, AND THE COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 18 |
Form 990 is available on www.guidestar.org. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Line 19 |
- Public Inspection - Governing documents, conflict of interest policy are available upon request as disclosed to other regulatory bodies. Financial Statements - are on file with state insurance agency on a statutory basis (stand alone entity). Combined data is published for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and subsidiaries and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Subsidiaries with Independent Auditors' Report. To request copies contact: Vice President, Communications Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals One Kaiser Plaza, 18th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 |
| Form 990, Part VII, Section A, Column B |
- Hours for Related Organizations - Individuals who are both officers and members of Boards of Directors work full time as employees as well as fulfill their board assignment. All officers work full time in their employee capacity. Full time work may require in excess of the traditional 40 hour week. Given the integrated nature of our organization, employees may provide support for various Kaiser Permanente companies. The average hours per week reported for the filing organization and related organizations was estimated. |
| Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 |
OTHER CHANGES IN NET ASSETS OR FUND BALANCES CHANGE IN PENSION AND OTHER RETIREMENT LIABILITIES $ (43,889,532) OTHER THAN TEMPORARY IMPAIRMENTS (57,895) GAIN/LOSS ON INVESTMENTS - BOOK 1,118,608 GAIN/LOSS ON INVESTMENTS - TAX (510,165) -------------- TOTAL $ (43,338,984) |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.