Nonprofit hospitals play a significant role in Utah’s health system. A new policy brief from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute provides an overview of nonprofit hospitals and examines the benefits they provide to the state including charity care and medical discounts; community education, services, and research; donations of time and money; and essential health services throughout the state.
“Data show two-thirds of the state’s hospitals have nonprofit status,” said Melanie Beagley, health care analyst at the Gardner Institute and lead author of the brief. “Additionally, 18 of Utah’s 21 rural and critical access hospitals are nonprofit, supporting access and providing community benefit to Utah’s rural areas.”
The brief also breaks down the state and federal requirements for nonprofit hospitals as well as the economic benefits they provide to the communities they serve:
Employment – The two largest nonprofit hospital systems in Utah, Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health, are two of the largest employers in the state. Utah’s nonprofit hospitals provide employment in most Utah counties.
Community Investments – Nonprofit hospitals in Utah support the communities they serve by investing in the local supply chain through purchases from Utah-based vendors and applying their mission to impact investments such as affordable housing and job-creation strategies in low-and-moderate income communities across the state.
