Christus Health Ark-La-Tex

Programs: Commitment to benefiting our communities patient care services - christus health ark-la-tex is a region of christus health, which was formed in 1999 to strengthen the 152-year-old, faith-based health care ministries of the congregations of the sisters of charity of the incarnate word of houston and san antonio. Founded on the mission "to extend the healing ministry of jesus christ," christus is challenged to reach out to, and beyond, the more than 60 communities we serve to help those in need. The vision of christus health as a catholic, faith-based ministry, is to be a leader, a partner and an advocate in the creation of innovative health and wellness solutions that improve the lives of individuals and communities so that all may experience god's healing presence and love. The christus health ark-la-tex region responds to health care needs through services provided at christus st. Michael system, which includes christus st. Michael hospital, a 311-bed acute care hospital, christus st. Michael hospital- atlanta, a 43 bed acute care hospital, 50-bed christus st. Michael rehabilitation hospital, christus st. Michael outpatient rehabilitation center, christus st. Michael health & fitness center, christus st. Michael imaging center and christus st. Michael home health-atlanta. Each of our health care entities has the same objective - to fulfill our mission of extending the healing ministry of jesus christ, which includes leading the way to a healthier community. Christus health ark-la-tex is located in texarkana, texas and services northeast texas, southwest arkansas, and southeast oklahoma, which covers a population of more than 338,000 individuals. In fiscal year 2017 alone, we were privileged to serve hundreds of thousands of individuals in various ways including: 65,984 visits to our emergency departments; 2,921 surgery procedures within our hospitals; 4,304 outpatient surgery procedures; 14,568 patients who were admitted to our hospitals for care and 173,360 patients who received outpatient care at our facilities. Touching the lives of the people around us is what makes christus health ark-la-tex stand apart. Allowing others to touch us gives christus health a vision for the medically needy in each of the communities we serve. Whether it is the life of a child expecting a future filled with miracles, the life of a man in need of a critical heart surgery, or the life of a woman about to give birth to her first child, christus health ark-la-tex's health care services work to provide the best care possible regardless of an individual's ability to pay. By collaborating with communities, churches, businesses and other health care organizations, christus health's various entities have strengthened their roles as major providers of comprehensive, accessible health care services. These partnerships within the community have been a blessing by helping christus health ark-la-tex better serve those in need. Furthermore, investment in community services would not be possible without dedicated employees and volunteers. They help to build strong relationships between christus' hospitals and other health care ministries and the community, nurturing christus' mission to meet health care needs and make a difference in the lives of others. Our employees work both inside and outside the walls of our health care facilities and are committed to reaching beyond the traditional hospital structure to help our communities maintain good health. Understanding the need to provide access to health care to as much of our public as possible, christus health participates in government-sponsored health care programs including medicaid, medicare, champus, tricare and others. In addition, we offer specific discounts on a sliding scale for necessary services provided to patients who do not have medical insurance or who do not participate in government sponsored programs. Christus health ark-la-tex provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient services to the people from the communities it serves. It conducts its activities and serves all patients without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, orientation, disability, age or national origin. Among the general medical/surgery services offered are: day surgery, open-heart surgery, orthopedics, level iii neonatal intensive care unit, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, diagnostic, therapeutic, wellness programs, occupational and speech therapy, cardiac/pulmonary outpatient rehabilitation, respiratory care, nutrition and dietary services and pharmacy. Christus st. Michael health system provides 24-hour emergency departments, level iii trauma designation in texarkana and level iv trauma designation in atlanta, that are open to serve all those in need of emergency care, regardless of their ability to pay. Christus health ark-la-tex also supports many local community health services, such as the randy sams shelter for the homeless and the spirit of st. Michael mobile clinic, which serves a seven-county area. As a not-for-profit organization and as part of christus health, a regional governing board comprised largely of independent community members representing the area we serve guides christus health ark-la-tex. We are privileged to have an open medical staff comprised of qualified physicians who work with us to provide care to our communities. All qualified physicians who are granted privileges to serve with us in our hospitals must undergo a thorough and comprehensive credentialing process.

other government sponsored services in addition to the provision of charity care and other community services, christus health provides services to persons covered under government-sponsored programs, including medicare and tricare. The unreimbursed costs of these services are reported to the state of texas but are not included in reports prepared following catholic health association guidelines. Christus health provides services to persons covered under the federal medicare program, and in fact, this is the largest single payor classification of patients served by this health system. The payment rate for inpatient services is on a per-case rate, calculated based on the diagnostic-related group (drg) into which the patient is categorized. Medicare, based on their fee schedule, reimburses outpatient services. Christus health also participates in the tricare standard program and many of our hospitals contract with the managed care support contractor for the south region to provide services under the provision of tricare prime.

community benefit reporting - charity care and medicaid christus adheres to the catholic health association's a guide for planning and reporting community benefit (2012), and complies with the state of texas requirements for reporting. Community benefit, reported as unpaid costs, includes both charity care and community services. To the limits of its resources, christus health is an institution of purely public charity; thus, the most tangible expression of christus health's charitable purpose is the provision of health care services to those persons who are unable to pay. This falls into two categories: charity care and unpaid government indigent care. In keeping with the mission, values, and vision of christus health, christus health provides charity care services in a manner that respects the dignity of the patients and their families. Charity care is provided without charge or at a charge that is less than the usual charge for such services. The determination as to the amount to be charged, if any, is made according to a patient's ability to pay as determined by established eligibility criteria. For uninsured patients whose economic circumstances place them at or under 200 percent of the federal poverty level (fpl), services are provided without any expectation of payment. Uninsured patients whose economic circumstances place them between 200 and 400 percent of fpl are charged based on a sliding scale, and those above 400 percent receive discounts based on the uninsured fee schedule. Christus health is an active participant in texas, louisiana, and arkansas' medicaid programs. Those programs seek to provide payment for health care services to individuals who meet certain financial and other requirements, which include evaluation of both assets and income.