UK St. Claire Reports $13.34 Million in Community Benefits in 2021

As the battle against COVID-19 continued, including the most severe spike since the onset of the pandemic, UK St. Claire (SCH) provided $13.34 million in reportable community benefits to its service region in 2021.

“Community benefit activities are an integral part of St. Claire’s mission and vision,” said Tom Lewis, St. Claire Foundation Executive Director. “They focus on collaboration and improving the health and well-being of the community in ways that go above and beyond what would be expected of any hospital or medical provider, especially in responding to the needs of special populations, such as the uninsured, elderly, and minorities.”

Internal Revenue Service guidelines require tax-exempt medical providers to track community benefits in the following categories: care for the uninsured/underinsured, community health services, health professions education, subsidized health services, cash and in-kind donations, research, and community-building activities.

In 2021, SCH provided $7.3 million in community benefits for the medically uninsured, underinsured, and elderly. That included $5.6 million in traditional charity and uncompensated care and a nearly $1.7 million shortfall in government reimbursement for Medicaid and Medicare services, at cost.

SCH provided more than $2.8 million in subsidized health services in 2021. Those were services provided despite a negative margin because they are needed in the community.

SCH also provided $69,375 in community health improvement support services. These included participation in community health fairs and screenings, free school sports physicals, and partnerships to advocate for the enhancement of community health.

“COVID has had an impact on our community health services since there have been a reduced number of community health fairs and other events,” said Lewis. “St. Claire’s reportable community benefit in this category is about half of what it was pre-pandemic.”

Through its relationship with the Eastern Kentucky Area Health Education Center (NE KY AHEC), SCH assisted in facilitating more than $3.1 million in health professions education, including physician and medical student training, nurse development, professional medical education, and scholarship support for students pursuing health careers degree programs.

The NE KY AHEC conducted significant research on radon mitigation, colorectal cancer screenings, and efforts to fight the opioid epidemic that was grant-funded making the SCH reportable community benefit a net zero.

“To all those we serve, thank you for putting your trust in UK St. Claire,” said Donald H. Lloyd, II, SCH President/CEO. “It is truly an honor to care for you as we continue our mission to proclaim God’s goodness through a healing ministry to the people of Eastern Kentucky.”

UK St. Claire takes great pride in being an engaged community partner committed to enhancing health and quality of life in our region.

To view SCH’s 2021 Community Benefit Report and learn more about SCH’s contribution throughout the region this past year, visit www.st-claire.org/cbr.