WHA’s
2024 Community Benefit Report, released on Dec. 19, shows the state’s hospitals provided
$2.3 billion in community benefits and charity care in fiscal year 2023. The report details the many ways Wisconsin’s nonprofit hospitals and health systems care for their communities beyond patient care, often at a financial loss.
Of the $2.3 billion in community benefits, $1.6 billion represents unfunded Medicaid losses—an increase of $225 million over the previous year. These losses are in addition to $168 million in charity care, $109 million in subsidized health services and $301 million in health professions education. With 96% of Wisconsin hospitals operating as nonprofits and reinvesting their revenues locally, these contributions support essential community programs and services that would not otherwise exist.
“Wisconsin’s hospitals and health systems not only provide outstanding patient care, they also provide many valuable community services that otherwise wouldn’t exist,” said WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding. “Rising Medicaid shortfalls and other financial pressures are putting hospital services and their community support programs at serious risk. The recent closure of two hospitals in the Chippewa Valley illustrates the real-world consequences when financial challenges reach a breaking point; and communities lose critical access to care and essential non-hospital services.”
Borgerding called on policymakers to take action. “Addressing inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates is crucial if we want to maintain the high-quality care and essential community programs that Wisconsin families and employers rely on,” he said. “Hospitals are committed to supporting Wisconsin’s workforce, economy and overall well-being, but we need state leaders to ensure sustainable funding for our hospitals.”
The 2024 Community Benefits Report also features dozens of community stories told by member hospitals. View the report and all the stories at
www.wha.org/communitybenefits.
To view the infographic, click
WHA Community Benefits Report FY2023 Financial Summary.