La Jolla Area Receives $95.8 Million in Community Benefits from Scripps

Programs of two Scripps hospitals devote $9.9 million in charity care

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Programs of two Scripps hospitals devote $9.9 million in charity care

Scripps Health invested $95.8 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 2014.


The nonprofit health system recently released its 2015 Community Benefit Report detailing its community benefit activities for fiscal year 2014 (October 2013 through September 2014). A copy of the report is available online at www.scripps.org/communitybenefit (PDF, 8.4 MB)


Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Green Hospital contributed $64.6 million and $31.2 million in community benefits, respectively.


Scripps cares for some of the neediest people in San Diego County, often at low to no cost to them. While the largest portion of its community benefit efforts in the La Jolla area went toward uncompensated care ($85.7 million), Scripps also invested in training for new physicians , health screenings, health education, support groups and other community needs through Scripps La Jolla and Green hospitals.


“Scripps is proud to continue its strong commitment to the San Diego community,” said Chris Van Gorder, Scripps president and CEO. “Today, more than 16,000 employees, physicians and volunteers continue to build on our rich history and keep the spirit of community service alive by going well beyond the call of duty in providing charity care, educational programs, health screenings and other much-needed services.”

Scripps La Jolla

At Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, uncompensated care for 2014 included $51.9 million in under-reimbursed care (underpayment from Medi-Cal, Medicare and other government programs); $8.99 million in charity care (for people without insurance who did not qualify for government assistance); and more than $803,000 in bad debt (failure to pay by patients whose health care was not classified as charity care).


Scripps La Jolla also invested $1.57 million in professional education and health research, including a pharmacy residency program. It devoted close to $1.3 million to community health services, programs and activities such as breast cancer support groups, cardiac and stroke exercise programs and prevention and wellness events.


Also in La Jolla, the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute devoted $335,114 to community benefit programs, including $125,175 for professional education and health research and nearly $210,000 for community health services.


Scripps Health employees and affiliated physicians collectively volunteered 776 volunteer hours in support of Scripps-sponsored community benefit programs, the equivalent of $35,866 in volunteer labor. (Volunteer hours are mentioned in the report but are not part of the community benefit total.)

Scripps Green

At Scripps Green Hospital, uncompensated care for 2014 included $23.1 million in under-reimbursed care (underpayment from Medi-Cal, Medicare and other government programs) and nearly $930,000 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 nearly $324,000 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.


Scripps Health employees and affiliated physicians collectively volunteered 380 hours, the equivalent of $17,563 in volunteer labor.

Meeting community needs in San Diego County

Across the county, Scripps Health invested $373 million into community benefit programs and services during fiscal year 2014. These programs and services accounted for 15.5 percent of the health system’s operating expenses. Scripps provided hospital services to one-quarter of the county’s uninsured patients.


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 2015 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.


Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system in San Diego, Calif.

Media Contact

Leonel Sanchez
858-678-6508