Silver Cross Community Benefit Tops more than
$35 Million in FY 2018

Silver Cross Hospital’s Community Benefit totaled over $35 million in fiscal year (FY) 2018 (Oct. 1, 2017-Sept. 30, 2018). Included in the hospital’s Community Benefit was more than $8.2 million in charity care (at cost) in which Silver Cross does not expect payment from patients.  Additionally, over $821,000 in uncompensated services was provided through the government’s Medicaid program.

“Silver Cross Hospital’s continuous dedication to care for the entire community, regardless of whether or not a person can afford to pay for it, is truly exemplary and proves that the organization sincerely cares about the overall health and well-being of the area residents it serves,” said Margie Woods, Chairperson of the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission—a not-for-profit group of local leaders devoted to improving access to healthcare, workforce development and redevelopment of Silver Cross Hospital’s former eastside Joliet campus.

Silver Cross Hospital’s FY2018 Community Benefit initiatives included: 

• Pledge to Provide Free Care: In 2008, the Hospital pledged to provide at least $4 million a year for ten years in charity care to serve the poor and uninsured in Will County. In the past ten years, over $79 million in care was delivered to Will County patients.  That number reflects the actual cost of health care provided. It does not include shortfalls in payments from the state’s Medicaid program for the poor or the Medicare program for seniors and disabled citizens.  These programs only cover a fraction of Silver Cross Hospital’s cost for treating patients.
• Financial Assistance: Silver Cross provides financial assistance to patients who maintain a household income up to 300% above the Federal Poverty Level.  In addition, the hospital provides a 50% discount off of charges to all uninsured patients.  Applications for assistance are available online at www.silvercross.org or by contacting the Patients Accounts Department at (815) 300-7087.  English and Spanish speaking financial counselors are available.
• Subsidized Services and Screenings: In addition to charity care and government-sponsored indigent care, Silver Cross provided more than $3.3 million in other community benefits last year, which included free and subsidized health services, programs and screenings, and donations to more than 300,000 people in Will County.  
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Resource Hospital: Silver Cross is also helping to save lives serving as the resource hospital for the area’s EMS system.  Silver Cross gave $635,000 to provide paramedic training, continuing education, and monitoring of ambulance services in Will and Grundy counties.  
• Scholarships and Grants: Through the Silver Cross Healthy Community Commission, the Hospital also awarded over $200,000 in healthcare-related scholarships, workforce development grants and quality-of-life initiatives.  Over 50,000 individuals associated with local organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sororities, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Community Service Council, Forest Park Community Center, Harvey Brooks Foundation, Hispanic/Latino Coalition of Will County, NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), National Hook-up For Black Women, Senior Services of Will County,  Spanish Community Center, University of St. Francis and Warren Sharp Community Center  were beneficiaries of Silver Cross’ investment in the community.

“We want to ensure everyone in our community has access to quality health care regardless of a patient’s income or insurance status,” said Ruth Colby, President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital. “As a not-for-profit health care provider, we’re committed to providing high-quality care to all our patients and the community.”