The following What Counts Q&A and Community Benefit Categories and Definitions, and Is It Community Benefit? are resources that can help you determine whether to report a program or activity as community benefit. If you still have questions: How to submit a What Counts Question to CHA.

What Counts as Community Benefit Q&A Search

1. Financial Assistance
   Topic: Discounts (June 2011; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Financial Assistance Policies (Updated March 2013; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Foundation Payments for Charity Care Patients (August 2009; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Free Care for Priests in the Diocese (January 2011)
   Topic: Free Care Vouchers to Low-Income School Districts (August 2009; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: International Patients (January 2008; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Patient Financial Assistance (July 2022)

1. Government-Sponsored Means Tested Health Care
   Topic: Can Medicaid denials be included in financial assistance policies? (January 2019)
   Topic: High Risk Pools (2007)
   Topic: Losses on CHAMPUS/TRICARE (May 2012)
   Topic: Medicaid Losses (December 2009)
   Topic: Medicaid Revenues Greater than Expenses (April 2011; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Medicare Losses (2007)
   Topic: Medicare Revenues (June 2012; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Provider Taxes (April 2009)
   Topic: Sales Tax (2007)
   Topic: Uncompensated Care Pools (January 2008)

1. Community Benefit Services
   1. Community Health Improvement Services
      
      Community Health Education
      Topic: Addressing Hospital Industry Hazards and Injuries (August 2009)
      Topic: Advanced Directives (October 2008; Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Community Awareness/Education (June 2012)
      Topic: Community Health Resource Center (February 2011)
      Topic: Competition to Increase Awareness of Mental Illness (August 2009)
      Topic: Forensic Processes (January 2023)
      Topic: Health Fairs/Screenings (2007; Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Hospital Website Provides Public Health Information (August 2009)
      Topic: Inpatient Tobacco Cessation Consultation (September 2021)
      Topic: Is it Marketing? (April 2009)
      Topic: Lactation Services (Updated September 2016)
      Topic: Media Outreach Programs (Updated June 2012; Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Patient Surgical Education Classes (January 2023)
      Topic: Program T-shirts and Accessories (December 2014)
      Topic: Regarding Give-Aways (July 2022)
      Topic: Support Groups (Updated November 2015)
      
      Community-Based Clinical Services
      Topic: Community Immunization (November 2020)
      Topic: COVID-19 Vaccinations (February 2021)
      Topic: Employee Health Promotion (November 2020)
      Topic: Employer Screenings (November 2008)
      Topic: Fast Track Clinic Expenses (August 2009)
      Topic: Health Promotion for Long-Term Care Residents (April 2009)
      Topic: Immunizations for Patients (August 2009)
      Topic: Treating Opioid Addiction (August 2019)
      Topic: Sports Medicine Center (May 2022)
      
      Health Care Support Services
      Topic: Applying for Guardianship (July 2020)
      Topic: Baby Supplies for New Mothers (January 2011)
      Topic: Bereavement Support Remembrance Services (June 2012)
      Topic: Car Seat Safety Program (November 2022)
      Topic: Catholic Mass Open to Community (January 2009)
      Topic: Charity Tracker (May 2022)
      Topic: Connecting Patients to Community Resources (e.g. Health Leads) (Updated December 2023)
      Topic: Drug Donation Program (January 2023)
      Topic: Enrollment Assistance (Updated December 2014)
      Topic: Genetic Counseling (November 2015)
      Topic: Grants (December 2022)
      Topic: Interpreter (oral)/Translation (written) Services (May 2019)
      Topic: Lifeline Services (January 2009)
      Topic: Nurse Navigators (November 2015)
      Topic: PACE Housing (Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Pastoral Care Programs (August 2009)
      Topic: Paying Expenses on Behalf of Individuals (Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Paying for Care in Outside Facility (Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Paying for Low-Income Patient Burial Costs (Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Providing Access to Post-Acute Care for Homeless and Uninsured (March 2019)
      Topic: Residential Facilities for Patients and Families (July 2013)
      Topic: Screening and Post Discharge/Care Management Services for Hospital's Low-Income Patients (Updated December 2023)
      Topic: Transportation (2007)
      Topic: Transporting Breast Milk (June 2012)
      
      Social and Environmental Improvement Activities
      Topic: Advocacy on Behalf of Special Needs Children (November 2023)
      Topic: Community Benefit or Community Building Activity (November 2015)
      Topic: Community-wide Quality Improvement/Care Coordination Efforts (March 2013)
      Topic: Educating Hospitals About Successful Environmental Practices (August 2009)
      Topic: Human Trafficking Education and Response (March 2022)
      Topic: Food Pantry (November 2023)
      Topic: Food Policy/Leadership Councils (August 2013)
      Topic: Physician Recruitment (March 2013; Updated November 2015)
      Topic: Providing Place for Exercise/Play (March 2016)
      Topic: Purchasing and Supplier Diversity (November 2023)
      Topic: Sustainable Farming (March 2013)
      Topic: Tree Planting (November 2021)

1. Health Professional Education
   Topic: Allied Health Professions (Updated August 2013)
   Topic: Can we always report the cost of health professional education? (April 2019)
   Topic: Cancer Registries (November 2021)
   Topic: Clinical Pastoral Education (January 2011)
   Topic: Cost of Time Spent by Instructors (October 2021)
   Topic: Grand Rounds (December 2014)
   Topic: Housing Costs (March 2013)
   Topic: Interns (Non-Physician) (April 2019)
   Topic: Libraries (February 2011)
   Topic: Long-Term Care Administrator Internships (February 2011)
   Topic: Nursing Schools (February 2011)
   Topic: Physician Education/CME programs (Updated April 2023)
   Topic: Physician Residents/Student Time (February 2011)
   Topic: Physician Time in Health Profession Education (June 2012)
   Topic: Scholarships (2007)
   Topic: Student Supervision (November 2023)
   Topic: Time Working with Health Professions Students (Updated July 2016)
   Topic: Training Trauma Nurses (July 2022)
   Topic: Tuition Assistance (February 2011)

1. Subsidized Health Services
   Topic: Emergency Services (February 2010; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Facility-Based Clinics
   Topic: Ground Ambulance Service
   Topic: Home Care (November 2023)
   Topic: Hospice (February 2008)
   Topic: Hospital Departments (February 2010; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Hospital Losing Money (April 2009; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Mammograms (February 2010)
   Topic: Medical Practices (February 2010)
   Topic: Morgue Services (April 2019)
   Topic: Organ Harvesting (May 2009; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: PACE (December 2014)
   Topic: Palliative Care (January 2008)
   Topic: Paying Physicians to be On-Call
   Topic: Paying Physicians to Serve Low Income/Uninsured (Updated June 2012)
   Topic: Services for Veterans (February 2010; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Specialty Hospital Services (April 2009)
   Topic: Telehealth Services (2007)
   Topic: Telemonitoring (May 2008)
   Topic: What Qualifies as a Subsidized Service?

1. Research
   Topic: Institutional Review Boards (February 2011; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Physician Research Presentations (February 2011)
   Topic: Quality Assurance or Research (February 2011;  Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Reporting Costs of Clinical Trials (April 2019)
   Topic: Reporting Research Costs When Results Not Published (April 2019)
   Topic: Reporting Research Partially Funded by For-Profit (April 2019)
   Topic: Reporting Research that is Fully Funded (April 2019)

1. Cash Donations and In-Kind Contributions
   Topic: After Prom Donations (January 2009)
   Topic: Ambulance Service (February 2010)
   Topic: Attending Meetings (April 2009)
   Topic: Blood Drives (July 2014)
   Topic: Breast Milk Bank (October 2019)
   Topic: Cash Contribution outside Community (August 2021)
   Topic: Community Benefit or Community Building Donations (April 2009; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Contribution for Fireworks Display (May 2010)
   Topic: Contribution for School Movement Program (August 2019)
   Topic: Contributions to Statewide Nonprofit Insurance Organization (November 2013)
   Topic: Donated Equipment/Supplies — Locally & Globally (2009; Updated March 2018)
   Topic: Donated Food (2007)
   Topic: Donated Hospital Services — Lab, Radiology, Pharmacy (2007; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Donated Space (2007)
   Topic: Donations on Behalf of Employees (May 2018)
   Topic: Donation to Endowment Fund for School for the Deaf (May 2010)
   Topic: Donations to Employees (February 2008)
   Topic: Electronic Health Records (2012; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Employee and Physician Time (2007; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Employee Paid Volunteer Hours (November 2023)
   Topic: Employee Participation in Professional Organizations (May 2012)
   Topic: Employee Time and Fund-Raising Costs (April 2009)
   Topic: Foreign Poverty Tours/Medical Missions (September 2012)
   Topic: Free Telemedicine Services to Community Hospitals (January 2011)
   Topic: Fundraising and Sponsorship Events (October 2008; Revised November 2008; Revised January 2011; Revised February 2014; Updated August 2021)
   Topic: Funds and Services Donated by One Organization to Another (2007)
   Topic: Funds Raised by Hospital Auxiliary Groups (2007; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Grants (March 2022)
   Topic: Hospital Volunteers' Time (2007)
   Topic: Letters Restricting Donations (2007; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Medical Respite Program (August 2009)
   Topic: Parking (2011)
   Topic: PILOTS/SILOTS (2007)
   Topic: Scholarships for Health Professions Education (August 2013)
   Topic: Scholarships for Pediatric Cancer Survivors (April 2011)
   Topic: School and Team Sports (December 2009)
   Topic: Voter Registration Education (June 2012)

1. Community Building Activities
   Topic: Advocacy (February 2010)
   Topic: Chamber of Commerce (May 2009;  Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Child Day Care (2007)
   Topic: Coronavirus Planning and Preparations (March 2020)
   Topic: Disaster Preparedness (Updated April 2015;  Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Ebola Planning and Preparations (December 2014)
   Topic: Exploring Health Careers (August 2021)
   Topic: Green Purchasing (October 2008)
   Topic: Hiring and Training Handicapped Workers (April 2011)
   Topic: Income Tax Assistance Program (May 2010)
   Topic: Literacy Program (August 2010)
   Topic: Physician Recruitment (Updated March 2013;  Updated March 2018)
   Topic: Recruiting for Clinical Laboratory Personnel (April 2009;  Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Socially Responsible Investing (October 2008; Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Workforce Development – Shadowing (August 2015; Updated November 2015)

1. Community Benefit Operations
   Topic: Attending Workshops (January 2008)
   Topic: Community Benefit Report (May 2010;  Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Community Health Needs Assessment (Updated November 2013)
   Topic: Director of Indigent Funding (Updated August 2021)
   Topic: Grant Applications (October 2008)
   Topic: IT Initiatives Supporting Community Benefit (January 2009)
   Topic: Reporting Costs of Program Evaluation (April 2019)

1. Accounting Questions
   Topic: Approach to Indirect Costs (2007)
   Topic: Capital Costs (Reviewed 2022)
   Topic: Financial Assistance Costs
   Topic: Indirect Costs  (January 2023)
   Topic: Joint Ventures and For-Profit Entities (Reviewed 2022)
   Topic: Lost Revenue (January 2008)
   Topic: Reporting Programs with No Expenses (Reviewed 2022)
   Topic: Reporting Restricted Grants (June 2014)
   Topic: Splitting Costs between Community Benefit and Marketing (February 2008) 

1. General Questions
   Topic: Changing Target Populations of Current Community Benefit Programs (June 2014)
   Topic: Community Health Needs Assessment (November 2023)
   Topic: Counting Persons Served (April 2009;  Updated November 2015)
   Topic: Expense of Grant Writing (September 2021)
   Topic: IT Costs (October 2008)
   Topic: Reporting Telemedicine/Telehealth Programs and Activities (January 2015)
   Topic: Timing of CHNA to be Reported on Schedule H (March 2018)

Please Take Note: The information provided above does not constitute legal or tax advice. The material is provided for informational/educational purposes only. Please consult with counsel regarding your organization's particular circumstances.