The Iowa Hospital Association found that in 2021, Iowa hospitals provided more than $742 million in total community benefits, according to a July 21 report shared with Becker's.
Community benefits include activities to improve health status in the state and increase access to healthcare.
Accompanying data from the association details Iowa hospital's employment of more than 149,000, providing more than $8.8 billion in wages and serving more than 2.6 million people. Hospital expenses accounted for more than $20 billion of the state's gross domestic product.
Association President and CEO Chris Mitchell said that the health systems were responsive to the needs of their communities.
"Many of these programs and services wouldn’t exist without hospital support and leadership. These efforts, with IHA’s advocacy, help ensure the financial stability of hospitals, making it possible for them to provide the services and programs most-needed by the people they serve," Mr. Mitchell said.
The association collected data from the American Hospital Association’s annual survey of hospitals, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.