Community Benefit
A slowing vaccination rate and more transmissible variants has led to a surge, promoting many to back the mandates.
The funding will target activities to detect and trace infections in homeless shelters, treatment and recovery facilities.
The vaccine still appears to be effective enough to prevent infection and severe illness in most people of all ages.
The IRS requires hospitals to spend on community benefit but doesn't specify what type, for what purpose or how much.
Arkansas, Florida, Missouri and Nevada are all experiencing big surges, due principally to the Delta variant and low vaccination numbers.
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting data shows 95 hospitalizations and one reported death, out of 12.5 million doses administered.
The AHA and FAH contend that the scale achieved through hospital consolidation can lower costs and improve access.
Of those 20 health equity committees, only eight included minority group representatives.
If vaccinations remain below the threshold needed to achieve herd immunity, hospitals may be dealing with COVID-19 patients indefinitely.
Expansion did not lead patients receiving care at safety net hospitals to transfer their care to non-safety-net hospitals.