The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced that in fiscal year 2023, Massachusetts hospitals and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) contributed $1.2 billion in total Community Benefits expenditures, according to reports submitted by the hospitals and HMOs and published by the AGO.
These reports mark the fourth year of reporting Community Benefits under the AGO’s ’s updated Community Benefits Guidelines, which encourage nonprofit hospitals and HMOs to adopt a framework centered around health equity while promoting investments in key social determinants of health.
A total of 57 hospitals filed Community Benefits reports for fiscal year 2023, covering the period from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. Forty-eight nonprofit hospitals report contributing $971 million in total Community Benefits expenditures, a 16% increase from last year. Nine for-profit hospitals report contributing $56 million in total Community Benefits expenditures. Five HMOs report contributing $140 million in total Community Benefits expenditures.
Many hospitals and HMOs reported Community Benefits programs targeted to increase community access to behavioral health supports. The following programs are examples of programs filers reported:
- Southcoast Health System’s New Beginnings Program provides support to opioid exposed newborns and their parents. This program provides a seamless course of care and treatment for newborns and their caregivers with the goal of improving long-term outcomes for both mother and child. During FY23, the New Beginnings Program was formally recognized as a Moms Do Care (MDC) Site. MDC is a statewide program designed to provide, peer-led, recovery-oriented, wrap-around support for pregnant, postpartum, and parenting women with a history of substance use. In addition to maintaining prenatal support, the program has increased postpartum support to three years post-birth.
- Fairview Hospital supports area youth through partnerships with local organizations supporting youth with depression, substance use/addiction and risk of suicide, particularly among LGBTQ+ youth. In addition to supportive public messaging to reduce the stigma of seeking help for substance abuse and mental health issues, Fairview Hospital also supports Railroad Street Youth Project's Q Club, a student-run support group for youth that meets weekly to provide mutual support and resources for gender diverse youth.
- Fallon Health supports Genesis House Inc., a program that reduces social isolation among older adults to improve overall health and quality of life. The Older Adult Program engages older members with monthly socials, quarterly educational workshops, and weekly Older Adult Committee meetings to discuss specific needs and plan activities.
- Lowell General Hospital works in partnership with the Greater Lowell Health Alliance and other community partners like the Bridge Clinic at the hospital to provide treatment, support, and resources to community members struggling with substance use. In FY23 the hospital assisted in disseminating opioid awareness campaign materials to provide education and awareness on opioid misuse and addiction. As part of the Substance Use and Prevention (SUP) Task Force of the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, the hospital aided in the work to strengthen new and existing collaborations in the Greater Lowell community to prevent and reduce the use of substances among community members.
The Community Benefits Program is managed by Health Care Analyst Maeva Veillard and Division Chief Sandra Wolitzky, both of the AGO’s Health Care Division.
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