Program areas at Aspen Medical Group
Cost of providing Medical services:aspen Medical Group (amg) is committed to the communities it serves and reflects its commitment by serving as a charitable health resource. To this end, allina health system and the amg provide and advocate for high-quality, efficient, affordable health care services and related educational and research programs to improve the health status of patients and communities it serves.the amg provides primary health care services, which are needed to meet the health care needs of the communities that it serves, without full reimbursement for these services.
Uncompensated care:charity careamg defines charity care as care which is provided to persons willing, but unable to pay. This includes patients whose charges are reduced because of inability to pay, patients who are unable to pay the balance left by any payor (private insurance or public programs), and patients for whom unusual circumstances, or special financial hardship warrant special consideration. The amg's definition of charity care does not include bad debt (charges written off for providing services to persons able, but unwilling, to pay for these services). Providing charity care ensures that all members of the communituy receive quality primary Medical care when they need it regardless of their ability to pay. In 2013 amg provided $901,012 in charity care.bad debtamg provides Medical care to all in need. There are times when patients account balances go unpaid, known as bad debt. These bad debt amounts in 2013 totaled $2,803,657.
Cost of participating in government programs:the amg is committed to serving all persons in need, regardless of race, creed, sex, nationality, religion, disability, age, or ability to pay. To promote access to care for all individuals, amg participates in the following public health care programs: medicare, medicaid, minnesotacare, and general assistance. Payments from these programs frequently do not cover the costs amg incurs to serve program beneficiaries. In 2013, amg provided $6,814,978 in health care services in excess of the reimbursement received by public programs, and taxes and fees related to these programs. The following is a breakdown of costs related to these programs, services and additional taxes and fees.costs in excess of medicare and medicaid paymentsamg provides services to public program enrollees. Such public programs have reimbursed at amounts less than amg's cost. In 2013, amg expended $4,014,713 beyond reimbursements to provide care for medicare patients and an additional $964,630 beyond reimbursements for medicaid patients.minnesotacare taxamg also participates in the funding of Medical care for the uninsured through a minnesotacare tax of 2% on certain net revenue. Patients who are unable to get insurance through their employer are eligible to participate in minnesotacare. Amg paid $1,377,202 for the minnesotacare tax in 2013.taxes and feesamg pays property taxes to local and state governments used in funding civil and education services to the community. In total, amg paid $458,633 in taxes and fees in 2013.