Comparison of US Hospital Charity Care Policies Before vs After Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance: Tax-exempt hospitals are required to provide charity care to maintain their tax-exempt status; charity care policies must be published online with clear eligibility criteria. Prior research has shown wide variability in charity care policy content; it is unknown how hospitals change their charity care policies over time.

Objective: To examine changes to tax-exempt hospital charity care policies before vs after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Charity Care Characteristics and Expenditures Among US Tax-Exempt Hospitals in 2016.

To examine content of financial assistance polices (FAPs) among US tax-exempt hospitals and determine whether restrictive policies were associated with reduced charity care spending. Using hospital tax filings with the Internal Revenue Service in 2016 and FAPs obtained from hospital Web sites, we examined characteristics of FAPs and associated expenditures for charity care in a representative sample of 170 tax-exempt hospitals. We identified common eligibility requirements and used them to define restrictiveness of FAPs.

Evidence and Feasibility of Implementing an Integrated Wellness Program in Northeast Georgia.

Evidence for the connection between physical and mental health is growing, as is interest in providing a holistic, mind-body approach to improving mental health and wellness. A needs assessment in northeast Georgia identified several regional health priorities, including mental health and substance abuse, access to care, and cardiovascular health. The study's purpose is threefold: to (1) review evidence for integrated mind-body wellness services, (2) explore the feasibility of implementing wellness services in a small mental health agency serving northeast Georgia, and (3) conduct a brief survey assessing interest in a wellness program.