Florida hospitals provide $2.7 billion in benefits, report says

Hospitals in the state contributed more than $2.7 billion in benefits to their communities in 2011. A Florida Hospital Association report outlined the value of benefits beyond direct patient care based on data from the Internal Revenue Service and the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Among the community benefits and their value cited in the report are charity care at $1.4 million, community building activities at $41 million and health professionals education, research and work force…