La Jolla Area Receives $114 Million in Community Benefits from Scripps

Scripps Health invested $114 million into community benefit programs and services in the La Jolla area through Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Green Hospital during fiscal year 2013, according to a recently released report.

Scripps La Jolla and Scripps Green contributed $72.6 million and $41.4 million in community benefits, respectively.

While the largest portion of its community benefit efforts in the La Jolla area went toward uncompensated care ($104 million), Scripps also invested in training for new physicians, health education, health screenings, support groups and other community needs.

“Scripps is proud to continue its legacy of making a vital and measurable difference in our community,” said Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of Scripps Health. “We commend our physicians, employees and volunteers for going well beyond the call of duty in providing charity care, educational programs, health screenings and other much-needed services.”

Scripps cares for some of the neediest people in San Diego County, often at low to no cost. In 2013, Scripps provided hospital services to one-quarter of the county’s uninsured population.

The nonprofit health system recently released its 2014 Community Benefit Report detailing its community benefit activities for fiscal year 2013 (October 2012 through September 2013).

Across San Diego County, Scripps Health invested $355 million into community benefit programs and services during fiscal year 2013. These programs and services accounted for nearly 15 percent of the health system’s operating expenses. A copy of the report is available online at www.scripps.org/communitybenefit

Scripps La Jolla

At Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, uncompensated care for 2013 included $60 million in under-reimbursed care (underpayment from Medi-Cal, Medicare and other government programs); $9.4 million in charity care (for people without insurance who did not qualify for government assistance); and $372,000 in bad debt (failure to pay by patients whose health care was not classified as charity care).

Scripps La Jolla also invested $1.6 million in professional education and health research, including a pharmacy residency program. It devoted more than $1.29 million toward community health services, programs and activities such as breast cancer support groups, cardiac and stroke exercise programs and prevention and wellness events.

Scripps Green

At Scripps Green Hospital, uncompensated care for 2013 included $33.1 million in under-reimbursed care (underpayment from Medi-Cal, Medicare and other government programs) and $1.1 million in charity care (for people without insurance who did not qualify for government assistance).

Scripps also invested $6.9 million in professional education and health research through Scripps Green Hospital, including internal medicine training. It devoted more than $327,000 toward community health services, including community building activities such as cancer and organ transplant support groups.

Other community health services funded were wellness events and programs, such as support for the St. Leo’s Mission Medical Clinic and St. Vincent de Paul Village Medical Clinic and Mid-City Clinic.

Meeting community needs in San Diego County

Scripps collaborates with other health systems, community groups and government agencies as well as business and grassroots organizations to serve the greatest patient population needs and prioritize investments in the health and well-being of the community.

The 2014 Community Benefit Report is the system’s annual response to Senate Bill 697, a 1994 state law that requires private, nonprofit hospitals to document the full range of community benefits they provide on a yearly basis. Scripps takes this legislative requirement a step further by incorporating community benefit activities from throughout the system, including Scripps’ five acute-care hospital campuses, home health services, wellness centers and clinics.

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