Baucus Bill Imposes Additional Tax Burdens on Nonprofit Hospitals

WASHINGTON, September 16, 2009 — Senator Baucus released the details of the proposed Senate health care plan, America's Healthy Future Act of 2009, which would create new and onerous requirements applicable to nonprofit hospitals starting in 2010. According to the provisions, every nonprofit hospital would be required to conduct a community health needs assessment at least once every three years, and then adopt an implementation strategy to ensure that the nonprofit hospital will meet the identified needs. Failure to complete the study in any three year period would result in a penalty on the nonprofit hospital of up to $50,000, while failure to disclose the implementation strategy would subject the nonprofit hospital to monetary penalties for filing an incomplete Form 990.