St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany operates as a not-for-profit organization with a core mission: to enhance community health through compassionate care. This commitment is demonstrated not just in patient services but also in how the organization reinvests its resources back into the communities it serves. Unlike for-profit healthcare entities, St. Peter’s Health Partners channels profits directly into improving healthcare services, adopting advanced technologies, upgrading facilities, and ensuring healthcare access for all, regardless of financial circumstances.
This dedication extends to proactively improving community well-being through various initiatives. At the heart of St. Peter’s Health Partners’ approach is compassion, ensuring every patient and their family is treated with dignity and respect. Care programs are designed to address the holistic needs of individuals – body, mind, and spirit. Furthermore, the organization provides significant community benefits, including chronic disease management programs, health education and preventative care, outreach programs for seniors, and essential care for uninsured and low-income populations.
Being a charitable, community-oriented organization comes with a responsibility to be transparent and accountable to various stakeholders, including those granting tax exemptions. These exemptions are critical, enabling St. Peter’s Health Partners to sustain and expand its vital community benefits.
To ensure transparency, the federal government mandates healthcare entities like St. Peter’s Health Partners to publicly report their community benefit programs. This detailed reporting is done through the IRS Form 990 Schedule H. This form requires a comprehensive breakdown of activities and services, categorized to provide a clear picture of community impact. Specifically, St. Peter’s Health Partners’ IRS Form 990 Schedule H includes detailed information on:
- Charity care and financial assistance programs offered to those in need.
- Community building activities aimed at improving overall health and well-being within Albany and surrounding areas.
- Practices related to Medicare, handling of bad debt, and collection processes.
- Relationships with management companies and any joint venture involvements.
- A comprehensive list of all facilities that comprise the St. Peter’s Health Partners organization.
In line with St. Peter’s Health Partners’ guiding principle of open and honest communication, access to the 990 Schedule H forms is readily available. This proactive disclosure reflects a commitment to transparency and fostering strong, trusting relationships with the community they serve.
For those interested in a deeper understanding of St. Peter’s Health Partners’ commitment to the community, further details can be found on their Community Benefit Ministry page. For any specific inquiries, Trinity Health Communications and Public Relations can be contacted at 734-343-1270.
Understanding the 340B Program
An important aspect of community benefit in healthcare is the 340B Program. This program, established under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act, requires pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in Medicaid to offer discounted drug prices to healthcare organizations serving a significant number of uninsured and low-income patients. This includes critical healthcare providers such as community health centers, children’s hospitals, and disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) like those within St. Peter’s Health Partners.
The 340B program enables hospitals to maximize limited resources, significantly reducing outpatient drug costs for vulnerable patients and expanding essential health services. Savings generated through the 340B program are reinvested to provide crucial services such as free care for uninsured individuals, vaccination programs, mental health services, medication management initiatives, and various community health programs. (Source: American Hospital Association) This program is a vital component in St. Peter’s Health Partners’ ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare access and affordability within the Albany community.
