Oct. 28, 2026: NJHA Report: N.J. Hospitals Commit $7.8 Billion to Community Health

The investments support healthier communities and access to care for all

New Jersey hospitals committed more than $7.8 billion to community health initiatives in 2024, reinforcing their longstanding pledge to improve health, expand access to care and strengthen communities across the state.

This investment helps address unmet local needs, fill gaps in public health programs and relieve the burden on state and local governments. The annual view of hospitals' community benefit activities is detailed in a new report from the New Jersey Hospital Association, Health Starts Here: 2026 New Jersey Hospitals Community Impact Report.

"Hospital community benefit is measured not only in dollars invested, but in lives improved," said NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett. "This commitment is demonstrated every single day - in a free health screening that identifies a serious health condition before it becomes a crisis; in school-based programming that sparks a career pathway for students; in research that provides new hope for current and future patients; and free and discounted healthcare services for those in need.

"In a single year, hospitals' community-based efforts represent more than 42 million individual interactions that help individuals and families access care and overcome barriers to good health," added Bennett. "All told, roughly 21 cents of every hospital dollar is committed to addressing local community health needs."

Hospital community benefit is transparent and tangible. NJHA's report is based on guidelines and data that nonprofit hospitals report annually to the Internal Revenue Service. In 2024, the most recent year available, IRS records show the following community benefit totals for New Jersey hospitals:

• Unpaid Costs of Patient Care - $5.14 billion (includes charity care, unreimbursed care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and other care provided to patients without payment)
• Community Health Improvement - $101 million (clinical services delivered in community settings and support for social determinants of health)
• Health Professions Education - $601.7 million (support for hospital workers, including scholarships, internships, clinical training sites and other continuing education)
• Subsidized Health Services - $1.45 billion (clinical services provided at a loss, based on local community needs)
• Research - $38 million (studies and clinical trials to advance clinical care, treatments and innovation)
• Cash and In-Kind Contributions - $472 million (cash, equipment, supplies and staff time donated to local municipalities and organizations)
• Community-Building Activities - $2.97 million (additional support beyond healthcare, addressing needs such as housing, the environment and public safety).

Find NJHA's Community Impact report at www.njha.com/community-impact-report/.