May 19, 2020 – In the best of times, it’s important that rural
communities have access to health care. In the worst of times –
one could argue that describes the
COVID-19 outbreak – it’s especially critical. But coronavirus isn’t
just a threat to public health, it also impacts infrastructure, such as
the rural hospitals communities are counting on for life-saving care.
“Rural hospitals throughout Georgia, including our Camden Campus,
are experiencing significant decreases in revenue due to coronavirus,” says
Michael D. Scherneck, president and CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System. “To protect
our community and to ensure the availability of critical resources for
coronavirus patients, we temporarily postponed elective surgeries and
procedures. Our physician offices also postponed procedures and did not
see as many patients. We’re doing our part to slow the spread of
coronavirus, but it is not without financial consequences.”
Right now, the Camden Campus needs the community’s support more than
ever. “There is an easy way our community can help. The Rural Hospital
Tax Credit Program allows Georgia state taxpayers to give back to rural hospitals that have
given so much to their communities before and during this crisis.”
The program allows Georgia taxpayers to redirect their 2020 state income
taxes to improve health care in their communities, thereby ensuring family
and friends have access to quality care close to home.
The Georgia General Assembly enacted the
Georgia HEART (Helping Enhance Access to Rural Treatment) hospital tax credit program
to help rural hospitals struggling to stay open, but hospitals aren’t
the only entities that benefit. The program offers a 100% state income
tax credit to Georgia taxpayers and C-Corporations that donate funds through
the program to hospitals that qualify, and for the second year in a row,
the Health System’s Camden Campus qualifies for this innovative program.
By redirecting what you would have paid toward state income tax to the
HEART program, you help rural hospitals, such as the Camden Campus, add
new services, purchase technology, recruit physicians and offer additional
health programs and screenings. In 2019, the Health System used its HEART
funds to add
3D Mammography to the Camden Campus radiology department. This innovative technology
is the most effective screening method for breast cancer, and early detection
can increase the chances of patient survival. The Health System had committed
the 2020 HEART funds to build a new
Wound Care Center on the Camden Campus. That project is now complete and the opening has
been delayed until early summer because of the pandemic. A more immediate
priority for the HEART funds, however, is to help provide for the personnel
and other resources that have been required to support the Health System’s
COVID-19 pandemic response efforts.
“The beauty of the HEART program is that it allows taxpayers to keep
their state tax dollars close to home, where it benefits family, friends
and themselves,” Scherneck says. “It also allows hospitals
to direct the donations to areas of greatest need.”
Scherneck adds, “Rural hospitals like the Camden Campus fill a vital
need. The tax credit program is an excellent way to improve access to
medical care and the quality of that care, without impacting household
finances. It’s an easy way to feel better about paying taxes, knowing
that your dollars helped improve health care in your own community. In
a time when many people feel powerless, this program empowers them to
strengthen their community. It truly is a win-win for everyone.”
The process to participate in this program is easy and takes less than
five minutes. Simply complete a brief application, found at
sghs.org/ga-tax-credit or at
georgiaheart.org.