Care for Indigent, Reinvestments into Health Care Equity Help Atrium Health Set New Annual Community Benefit Record

Health provider underwrites nearly $3 billion in free and discounted care and other benefits

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 11, 2024 – Atrium Health’s reinvestments into the communities it serves continues to grow. In its first year as part of Charlotte-based Advocate Health, Atrium Health provided a record amount of community benefits, totaling $2.97 billion during calendar year 2023. Advocate Health’s total community benefit across its six-state service territory totaled more than $6 billion – which amounts to more than $16 million per day reinvested into improving health in its communities.

Community benefit, as defined by the IRS, includes community investments into free and discounted care for low-income patients, undercompensated care for those on Medicare and Medicaid and costs related to medical research, among other programs and services that promote health, well-being and community building.

Atrium Health has locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Advocate Health is the nation’s third-largest health care system. Its other care delivery brands, Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care, provide care in Illinois and Wisconsin, respectively.

“This community benefit report is evidence of our commitment to making a significant impact in all the communities we serve to make health care more accessible for all – including by addressing the social drivers that negatively impact people's health,” said Advocate Health Chief Executive Officer Eugene A. Woods. “I am inspired on a daily basis by our team's dedication to providing nationally leading care, not just within our facilities, but well beyond our walls and into vulnerable communities in greatest need.”

“Community benefit is the heartbeat of nonprofit health care,” said Ken Haynes, president of Advocate Health’s Southeast Region, which includes all of Atrium Health. “In addition to the high-quality care we provide, community benefit demonstrates the greater value of our mission, overall, in protecting the health of our communities and making investments to help address key challenges such as hunger, homelessness and mental health that have long-term impacts on communities and the health of people who live there. This new record for annual community benefit – nearly $3 billion – is a testament to the positive impact Atrium Health has improving health, elevating hope and advancing healing for all.”  

Atrium Health and Advocate Health are also deeply invested into medical education, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise and is involved with medical training programs at multiple colleges across its footprint.