Advocate Health Care invests $1B in its communities in 2022

Driven by its purpose to help people live fully, Advocate Health Care contributed $1 billion in charitable care and services last year. The investment, up 4% from a year earlier, includes free and subsidized care for low-income populations, as well as programs aimed at addressing social factors that impact health.

As part of the third-largest nonprofit health system in the nation and one of the largest providers of community benefit in the industry, the contribution represents a portion of Advocate Health’s total $5.9 billion in community benefit.

In Illinois, a range of programs and services in underserved communities focus on driving safer, higher-quality care and enhancing overall health and wellness.

Among programs carried out in the state include those that aim to address food and housing insecurity. Since 2018, Advocate Health Care has provided more than 1.3 million pounds of food to about 30,000 families through mobile and hospital-based pantries, food pharmacies and more. Meanwhile, through a public-private partnership in Cook County, we helped place individuals and families into permanent supportive housing last year.

“These robust and critical programs reflect our commitments to making a difference beyond the walls of our hospitals and clinics by advancing health equity for our patients, teammates and other community members,” said Bill Santulli, president of Advocate Health – Midwest, which includes Advocate Health Care in Illinois.

Community investments include free care for low-income patients, undercompensated care for those on Medicare and Medicaid, and costs related to medical education and research, among other programs and services. Additionally, 2022 contributions included:

• Subsidized health services including trauma and behavioral health services, screenings, immunizations, school-based health care and other community outreach programs
• Education to train physicians, nurses and other health professionals
• Volunteer services provided by teammates
• Contributions of equipment and supplies

“I am proud of the work of our teammates in, once again, setting a record for community benefit and caring for our communities in a way that sets us apart as a national leader,” Advocate Health CEO Eugene A. Woods said. “Whether providing free care to thousands of low-income patients through our financial assistance programs, training the next generation of the health care workforce, investing in affordable housing or bringing virtual care to underserved communities and Title I schools across our footprint, our North Star has been and always will be how we are making our communities better.”

“Our investments, which reflect the unique and evolving needs of our patients and communities, are guided by our commitment to be a force for meaningful social impact,” Advocate Health CEO Jim Skogsbergh said. “We are particularly proud of our many programs that aim to eliminate barriers to health and wellness.”