COLUMBUS — Ohio's 174 hospitals claimed more than $3 billion worth of community-benefit contributions in 2006, the Ohio Hospital Association reported in its annual response to the increasing scrutiny of nonprofit hospitals' tax-exempt status.

They also generated $62.8 billion for the state's economy and 531,183 jobs, including 328,700 employees directly, according to the report, "Caring Today for a Healthy Tomorrow."

The community benefit included $1.8 billion under Catholic Health Association guidelines, the nationally recognized standard on community benefit reporting —$867.9 million in charity care; $649.8 million in the shortfall between Medicaid payments and the hospitals' stated costs of caring for those patients, and $899.3 million in such community activities as immunization programs, health screenings, medical research and education, disaster relief, and contributions to community programs.

CHA guidelines do not include Medicare payment shortfalls and debts that are written off, which the OHA reported as $704.4 million and $560.7 million, respectively.

Hospitals typically base community-benefit costs at the highest amounts they would charge patients without insurance contracts, which are much higher than most patients pay.

The full 2008 report is at www.ohanet.org/benefit.

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