Pittsburgh Review

UPMC has released its newly updated Community Benefits Report, showcasing its continuing commitment to the regions it serves throughout Pennsylvania, western New York, and western Maryland. The UPMC Community Benefits Report details how UPMC provided $1.5 billion in community benefits during Fiscal Year 2021, calculated using IRS guidelines. This is part of UPMC’s total community investment of over $4 billion, which includes local, state, and federal taxes paid, unreimbursed Medicare costs, investment in facilities, equipment, and technology, and does not include COVID-19 expenditures. 

Last year, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, UPMC responded with commitment and compassion to keep individuals, families, and UPMC staff members safe. Although many in-person activities and initiatives were curtailed during this period, UPMC developed innovative solutions to continue access to important community programs — extending telemedicine capabilities and establishing COVID-19 vaccine and testing sites in underserved communities.  

UPMC’s annual total economic impact of $46 billion has nearly doubled from five years ago. The health system’s spending has a multiplier effect that ripples benefits through local economies. As the Commonwealth’s largest non-governmental employer with over 90,000 employees, UPMC recently invested $300 million to support its workforce with enhanced pay and benefits.  

UPMC’s $1.5 billion in community-focused programs last year equals $4.1 million per day, or over 15% of net patient revenue. According to the most recent publicly available data, UPMC contributes more community benefits than any other health system in Pennsylvania.  

 

The $1.5 billion total includes:  

- $444 million to make care more accessible for the most vulnerable residents in the communities UPMC serves, including $101 million in free or discounted care to 16,000 patients. UPMC also contributes a larger-than-expected share of the region’s charity care. While UPMC cares for 18% of patients in all of Pennsylvania, it provides 28% of the hospital charity care in the Commonwealth.  In western Pennsylvania, UPMC hospitals care for more than half of all Medical Assistance patients. 

- $473 million for community health and wellness programs and charitable contributions. UPMC provides nearly half of all funding for hospital-sponsored community health improvement programs statewide. From neighborhood clinics and support groups, to free medical equipment and transportation, UPMC provides more than 3,000 free and subsidized programs. These programs are aimed at addressing the most pressing needs as identified in the Community Health Needs Assessment, which include chronic disease management, behavioral health, access to care and navigating resources, and prevention and community-wide healthy living. Additionally, UPMC is working to reduce health inequalities in underserved communities across the Commonwealth, with initiatives such as the UPMC Center for Social impact.  

- $593 million for medical research and education, advancing breakthrough treatments and cures while training the next generation of clinicians. UPMC funded more than half of all hospital-supported research in Pennsylvania. Along with the University of Pittsburgh, the organization’s educational institution partner, UPMC is ranked in the top 10 nationally in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, and has the nation’s third-largest medical residency program.  

UPMC cares for a large share of high-need patients throughout all the regions it serves, bringing resources within reach to:  

- 8 out of 10 substance use patients in Allegheny County.  

- 7 out of 10 Medicaid patients in Bedford, Blair, and Somerset counties.

- 8 out of 10 pediatric patients from low-income families in Erie, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, and Venango counties.

- 6 out of 10 babies born to low-income families in the Dauphin County/ Harrisburg region.

- 7 out of 10 seniors in Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, and Tioga counties.  

 

“UPMC prioritizes investing in initiatives and programs that address the most prevalent needs in the diverse communities that it serves,” said Edward Karlovich, executive vice president and chief financial officer, UPMC. “We recognize that the wellbeing of those we serve goes well beyond their physical health, and I am proud of the resources UPMC has contributed, especially in the midst of the challenges of a global pandemic, to ensure that these needs are addressed.” 

“In addition to the clinical excellence found within each of our hospitals, our workforce is equally dedicated to making a positive impact in our communities where our employees and their families live,” added Mark Sevco, president, UPMC Hospitals.  

Follow this link for the UPMC Community Benefits Report.  

Original source can be found here.