Moab (Utah) Regional Hospital purchased housing for traveling healthcare professionals and received a property tax exemption for the lodging, according to the Moab Sun News.
The hospital is hiring traveling lab technicians and a radiologist ahead of an expected busy tourism season beginning in March. Concerns about where the professionals would stay led Moab Regional Hospital to buy two condos and a two-unit house for the workers, which the hospital pays for on behalf of the traveling employees.
When considering taxes on the housing, Moab Regional Hospital vied for exemption. It received about $4,300 in exemptions for 2019, but none for 2018, according to the report.
Moab Regional Hospital CEO Jen Sadoff told the Moab Sun News: "I see our hospital … as needing to address housing as part of ensuring our workforce. Right now, [tax exemption is] not a make-it-or-break-it, but I think it would set an unfortunate precedent to deny an important nonprofit who does have eligibility for property exemption that piece."
More articles on healthcare finance:
Kansas hospital abruptly closes
Mayo's annual revenue climbs to $12.6B amid move to Epic EHR
1 in 5 rural hospitals at high risk of closing, analysis finds