Through a combination of uncompensated care and investments and services, Missouri hospitals provided a total community benefit of $3.3 billion in 2017, according to a report from the Missouri Hospital Association.
Four Missouri health systems and 122 hospitals participated in the report. The total community benefit came from $795 million in charity care; $627 million of bad debt; $376 million in education costs for health professions; $148 million in donations; $17 million in medical services expenses; $740 million in unreimbursed Medicare costs; and $647 million in unreimbursed Medicaid costs.
The $1.4 billion of uncompensated care is a 21 percent increase from 2012 to 2017.