Sutter Health and many other healthcare system around the country voluntarily subscribe to a common definition of community benefit developed by the Catholic Health Association.
What is Community Benefit?
Community benefits are programs or activities that provide treatment and/or promote health and healing as a response to community needs; they are not provided for marketing purposes. Community benefit:
- Generates a low or negative financial return
- Responds to needs of special populations such as persons living in poverty and other disenfranchised persons
- Supplies services or programs that would likely be discontinued – or would need to be provided by another not-for-profit or government provider – if the decision was made on a purely financial basis
- Responds to public health needs
- Involves education or research that improves overall community health
Sutter's Commitment to Our Communities
In 2018, our network of physician organizations, hospitals and other healthcare providers, invested $734 million in healthcare programs, services and benefits for the poor and underserved. This includes:
- The cost of providing charity care
- The unpaid costs of participating in Medi-Cal
- Investments in medical research, health education and community-based public benefit programs such as school-based clinics and prenatal care for patients.
How PAMF Gives Back
In 2018, PAMF provided $37.9 million in services for the poor and underserved and in community benefits for the broader community. In addition, each year PAMF physicians and staff donate hundreds of hours to community service.
Our deeds and donations empower partnerships that enhance community well-being. We continue to support various community programs and services such as projects and educational activities with local school districts, and partnerships with community organizations. This includes close partnerships with community health clinics that provide a crucial safety net for people who otherwise might have a hard time getting quality healthcare.
Because we know first-hand that many people in our communities struggle to pay for healthcare, PAMF’s Financial Assistance Program also directly helps those who are unable to pay for medically necessary services they have received.
Patients may qualify for assistance if they lack health insurance and have low income (defined at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline). If you believe you may qualify, contact us at (877) 371-0865.
Association for Community Health Improvement
Sutter Health is a proud member of the Association for Community Health Improvement (ACHI). This organization provides tools and resources to help Sutter Health enhance performance in achieving community health goals. Learn about ACHI.