Oregon hospitals' community benefit costs rose in fiscal year 2015 as charity care decreased, according to a new report from the Oregon Health Authority.
Here are four findings from the report.
1. Oregon hospitals provided nearly $1.9 billion in community benefit costs in FY 2015, up approximately 1 percent from the $1.88 billion reported for FY 2014.
2. Unreimbursed costs for providing Medicaid and Medicare services represent more than 70 percent of all community benefit costs in FY 2015.
3. In FY 2015, unreimbursed costs for Medicaid grew to $634 million from $538 million, up about 18 percent from the year prior.
4. While Oregon hospitals' community benefit spending rose, charity care costs have continued to fall, dropping 37 percent from FY 2014 to $157 million in FY 2015. This follows a 36 percent decline from FY 2013.
The OHA noted since hospital fiscal years vary, FY 2015 does not always align with the second year of ACA implementation. Therefore, some hospitals may only be reporting one and a half years of community benefit costs under new provisions of the ACA.