Part I, Line 6a:
|
The community benefit report is available upon request.
|
Part I, Line 7:
|
Charity care expense was converted to cost on line 7a based on an overall cost-to-charge ratio which addresses all patient segments. Unreimbursed Medicaid on line 7b was calculated using the costing methods to prepare the cost reports. The cost for subsidized health services on line 7g was determined using the Medicare cost report.
|
Part III, Line 2:
|
The amount on line 2 represents implicit price concessions. The Organization determines its estimate of implicit price concession based on its historical collection experience with this class of patients.
|
Part III, Line 3:
|
Virginia Gay Hospital used the percentage of applications denied due to lack of information.
|
Part III, Line 4:
|
The footnote to the Organization's financial statements can be found on pages 17 and 18 of the attached audited financial statements.
|
Part III, Line 8:
|
There was a Medicare shortfall for the fiscal year. Even at a loss the Hospital continues to provide services to these patients because access to healthcare and individual's health is important. Therefore, the Hospital considers the Medicare shortfall a community benefit.Total revenue received from Medicare is the gross reimbursement plus settlement. Both total revenue received from Medicare and the Medicare allowable costs are reported from the Medicare Cost Report. The Medicare Cost Report is completed based on the rules and regulations set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.Hospital services reimbursed on a fee schedule are not included in the Medicare calculation per the 990 instructions. Had this been reported the total loss from Medicare services would have been $384,928.Medicare fee schedule revenue $ 178,005Medicare estimated costs of care relating to payments (562,933)Net (Shortage) $ (384,928)
|
Part III, Line 9b:
|
Statements are sent out every 30 days. Up to four statements are sent. Accounts are sent to collections at 121 days, with all collection practices adhering to 501(r) guidelines. If an approved application is received between 122-240 days the account is cancelled from the collection agency.
|
Part VI, Line 2:
|
The Hospital provides staff to attend Community Coalitions and Advisory Committees which are focused on specific populations and/or community health issues. Examples of the committees include but are not limited to: the Benton County (Provider) Coalition, the Benton County Disaster Recovery Coalition, Above The Influence (substance abuse) Coalition and the Benton County Wellness Coalition. These coalitions meet regularly throughout the year, gather/assess data to identify problems, and work towards resolution of the identified problems. Virginia Gay Hospital's staff participates in the community needs assessment process for public health. The target area for the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is Benton County, Iowa. Special attention was paid to recruiting diverse subsets of the population to help accurately identify the most critical issues in the area. Following the collection of all the statistical data, each health indicator was analyzed by comparing it regionally, to the state average rate, and national rates to determine the community's priority health concerns. Obesity, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse were identified as the highest priority health needs in Benton County. The CHNA and implementation strategy are posted on our website and can be viewed in their entirety at www.myvghinc.org .
|
Part VI, Line 3:
|
Virginia Gay Hospital is committed to providing charity care to persons who have healthcare needs and are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program, or otherwise unable to pay for medically necessary care based on their individual financial situation. Virginia Gay Hospital strives to ensure that the financial capacity of people who need health care services does not prevent them from seeking or receiving care. Patients are expected to cooperate with Virginia Gay Hospital's procedures for obtaining charity care or other forms of payment of financial assistance, to contribute to the cost of their care based on their individual ability to pay. The charity care policy includes all departments of the facility, including Vinton Family Medical Clinic, Urbana Family Medical Clinic, Van Horne Family Medical Clinic, Atkins Family Medical Clinic and the Nursing and Rehab. The Virginia Gay Hospital Home Health Agency has a separate financial assistance procedure, due to their Public Health role in the community. VGH has a commitment to establish/maintain effective partnerships throughout the county and work with all entities that influence community health. To improve and strengthen the local planning process multiple community partners have been involved in the CHNA process. Notification about charity care is available by the publication of notices in patient bills, posting of notices in the emergency rooms, admitting and registration departments, the Business Office, and other public places the Hospital may elect. Information is also included on the facility website, and in the patient information packets. A request for charity may be made by the patient or a family member, close friend or associate of the patient, subject to the applicable privacy laws.
|
Part VI, Line 4:
|
The community VGH serves, as defined for the CHNA, is based on the primary service area of our hospital. The major service area is Benton County, serving an estimated population of nearly 26,000 with an area of 716.27 square miles. VGH also services several other counties and states. Per the Iowa Hospital Association Dimensions Program (2018) 82.88% of the 4,118 outpatient visits, were from residents of Benton County and of the 339 VGH inpatient discharges, 88.2% were Benton County residents. Unique to Benton County population is the presence of an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) training campus. AmeriCorps NCCC strengthens communities and develops leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with non-profits secular and faith based local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national and state parks, Indian tribes, and schools, members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned. AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18-24.The closest hospitals are located 37 miles away in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Virginia Gay Hospital currently operates four separate clinics; one clinic is located on the hospital campus in Vinton, another located in the rural town of Van Horne, Iowa which is 15 miles from Vinton, another located in the rural community of Urbana, 13 miles from Vinton, and the other located in the rural community of Atkins which is 19 miles from Vinton. The Hospital and clinics serve a large number of Medicare and Medicaid patients.The median household income for Benton County was $77,815. The 2019 unemployment rate was 3.2%. Construction, agriculture and electrical equipment are the most common industries.
|
Part VI, Line 5:
|
Virginia Gay Hospital is proudly recognized as having one of the lowest costs per stay rates in the state of Iowa. The Hospital offers twenty-five beds in an acute care setting with state of the art technology and professional services. Virginia Gay Hospital also offers 24 hour acute care, short term skilled nursing services, radiology, respiratory care, cardio-pulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, laboratory services, surgical services, outpatient clinics and emergency care. In addition, our staff has contributed multiple hours providing uncompensated time in areas such as family/parenting/sibling education, medical expertise for the schools' athletic teams, health fairs, information and referrals to community services, safety classes, sports physicals and many other uncompensated services.Requirements of the IRS community benefit standard for tax-exempt organizations are integral to the Hospital's larger charitable mission of improving health and quality of life. Specifically, Virginia Gay Hospital is governed by an independent board including community leaders, physicians, consumer representatives, business experts and clinical healthcare experts who reside in our primary service area. The Board has a history of commitment to acting with the highest integrity and has been proactively evaluating opportunities to voluntarily adopt governance best practices to ensure the organization continues to operate with the highest of integrity for the benefit of the community.To meet the needs of our community, the Hospital extends privileges to medical staff that are qualified through licensure in the state of Iowa.Excess funds are reinvested and used for patient care and facility upgrades.Virginia Gay's Home Health Agency offers a variety of services to all ages in the rural population of Benton County; Including Skilled nursing, Home Care Aide and HomeMaking services. The Hospital also offers such services as skilled and non-skilled service home care, blood pressure checks, and group teaching classes such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).In addition, Virginia Gay Hospital, through its integrated network of providers, provides non-emergency services to the community it serves. It makes these services accessible to the community through participation in government programs like Medicare and Medicaid and by offering assistance through their Financial assistance program.Virginia Gay Hospital's Financial Assistance Policy provides discounted and free services to patients who lack the resources to be fully responsible for the health care they receive. The Financial Assistance Policy is designed to ensure the entire community served by the Hospital has access to needed healthcare services.Virginia Gay Hospital takes its mission to improve the health and quality of life of the people it serves a step further by reaching out to meet the broad health needs of the community. It strives to identify community needs beyond basic healthcare, respond to them, aiming to make a positive, life-enhancing difference in the community.Contributing to Community Education: The nursing staff and Home Health Agency nurses participate in county wide community health fairs. These events provide information and guidelines to those in need of Medical information.Preventive Care a Priority: The Hospital has taken steps to enhance preventive care for people of all ages by ensuring that those who come here for preventive care receive the screenings and recommendations appropriate to their personal and family history.
|