Community Health

Memorial Health's five hospitals strengthen the communities they serve in numerous ways, including participation in Community Health initiatives and providing patient financial assistance. Not-for-profit health care organizations including Memorial Health are exempt from paying federal income taxes because they fall into a category recognized by the federal income tax code as charitable organizations.

In exchange for not-for-profit status, the Internal Revenue Service requires that hospitals engage in activities that benefit their communities, known by the IRS as Community Benefit. Memorial Health includes Decatur Memorial, Jacksonville Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Springfield Memorial and Taylorville Memorial hospitals. These hospitals annually complete reports to the IRS and the Illinois Attorney General as applicable detailing our Community Benefit activities.

Every day, Memorial Health lives out our mission to improve lives and build stronger communities through better health. As healthcare professionals, we take our mission beyond our walls and address the inequities in housing, employment, safety, transportation, access to food and education that continue to affect the health of people marginalized in the communities we serve. To do this, we work on strengthening our partnerships with organizations already engaged in this important work. Community Health initiatives aligned with community needs are an important strategy in this goal.

The information below provides a glimpse of the Community Health programs that contributed to Memorial Health's most recent community benefits.