BroMenn Healthcare Community Benefits

All services provided by the BroMenn Healthcare System are focused around the needs of our community members and convenient access to available healthcare options, in keeping with our mission. We strive to provide a meaningful, comprehensive selection of services to our patients at the highest level of care, even though some of these services may incur a financial loss to our organization. As we consider the ways we want to serve our communities, we have these priorities in mind:

• Providing for the basic healthcare needs of community members with excellent care and easy access;
• Educating community members on healthcare issues that are affecting our population;
• Providing access to specialized treatments that would allow patients to remain in their own community through the course of their care

In fiscal year 2007, we subsidized the cost of providing care to Medicare and Medicaid patients by more than $14 million. Nearly $1.7 million in charity care (at cost) was provided to patients with an inability to pay who did not qualify for governmental programs. An additional $7.7 million in services (at cost) were written off as uncollectible.

Charity, Bad Debt & Government-Sponsored Care

In fiscal year 2007, BroMenn absorbed over $23.4 million (at cost) in charity care to patients, bad debt (the extension of credit for services BroMenn provided for which payment was expected, but not received), and the unreimbursed cost of Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state indigent health care programs. BroMenn treats all patients equitably, with dignity, respect and compassion. We are sensitive to the fact that some members of our communities do not have the ability to pay for their care and do not qualify for government assistance. In our Charity Care Policy, individuals or families at or below the federal poverty level receive a 100% discount on charges of medically necessary services. Qualifying individuals or families who are between 101% and 200% of the federal poverty level pay based on a sliding fee scale, depending on income, assets and number of family members. BroMenn employs a full-time patient financial counselor, who works with patients on completing necessary paperwork, exploring payment options, and arranging payment plans.

To make an appointment with our Financial Counselor, call (309) 268-2279.

Community Service

In addition to charity care, government-sponsored indigent health care and bad debt, in fiscal year 2007 BroMenn spent over $12.4 million for language assistance services, donations, volunteer services, education, research, subsidized health services and other community benefits. Some examples of these benefits include:

• Financial support, staff Board representation and in-kind contributions to local not-for-profit, charitable organizations, such as the American Red Cross, the United Way, Alcoholics Anonymous, the American Heart Association and many more, all of whom provide essential support to the population we serve; 
• Partnership with another local hospital, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, to operate the Community Cancer Center, which provides comprehensive outpatient cancer treatment in a centralized, convenient location;
• Operation of the only emergency department in Woodford County at Eureka Community Hospital (a Critical Access hospital);
• Sponsorship of a Graduate Medical Education program, where neurosurgery and family practice residents are educated at BroMenn. As McLean County's only residency program, BroMenn's curriculum ensures that a continued source of new physicians will be attracted to the central Illinois area. GME training includes working directly with patients in surgeries and in a Family Health Clinic.
• Providing a Family Health Clinic, which ensures access and subsidized care to underinsured families, regardless of their ability to pay;
• Subsidizing, through BroMenn Physician Management Corporation, the operation of several primary care clinics in medically underserved rural areas;
• Providing needed mental and behavioral health services at a sizable financial loss through the only inpatient mental health unit in McLean County, an outpatient counseling center, and, through a partnership with Proctor Hospital, an inpatient & outpatient addiction recovery treatment center;
• Offering a variety of free or low-cost community wellness classes, health fairs and screenings aimed at helping people take control of their health and make more educated life choices;
• Providing space and financial, information systems & staff support to the Community Health Care Clinic, a free clinic for the working, uninsured poor. 

View BroMenn's comprehensive Community Benefits Report.