Press Release: 7/23/2026

Massachusetts Hospitals And HMOs Report Contributing Approximately $1.6 Billion In Community Benefits In Fiscal Year

 



Investment in Programs Targeting Priority Areas of Chronic Disease, Mental Illness, Housing, and Substance Use Increased Since 2018 Community Benefit Guidelines Updates 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



7/22/2026



 



BOSTON — The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) today announced that in fiscal year 2025, Massachusetts hospitals and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) contributed $1.6 billion in total Community Benefits expenditures, according to reports submitted by the hospitals and HMOs andpublished today by the AGO. 



A total of 51 hospitals filed Community Benefits reportsfor fiscal year 2025, covering the period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. 49 nonprofit hospitals reported contributing $1.1 billion in total Community Benefits expenditures, of which $120 million was spent on free and discounted care. Two for-profit hospitals reported contributing $5.7 million to the Health Safety Net, which pays for care for uninsured and underinsured residents.  



A total of five HMOs filed Community Benefits reports for fiscal year 2025. They reported contributing $494 million in total Community Benefits expenditures, of which $476 million was allocated to the Health Safety Net.



Hospitals and HMOs reported spending approximately $577 million on Community Benefits programs in FY25. $323 million was allocated to one of four statewide health priorities—chronic disease ($160 million), housing stability and homelessness ($14.5 million), mental health ($127 million), and substance use disorder ($22.2 million). The remaining funds were allocated to address other local health needs identified by communities. 



Since the AGO updated the guidelines for Community Benefits in 2018, Massachusetts hospitals and HMOs have contributed a total of $7.8 billion in Community Benefits. Since the new guidelines went into effect, hospitals and HMOs increased spending directed toward priority areas of chronic disease, mental illness, housing, and substance use disorder treatment by 63%.



Many hospitals and HMOs reported Community Benefits programs designed to empower vulnerable populations to take control of their health. The following are examples of Community Benefits programs from this year’s reports: 




  • Health New England awardedtheWomen of Color Health Equity Collective with a grant to support their Madrina Project, which advances maternal health equity for Black, Latina, immigrant, and families of color in Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke. This program serves new mothers who have no familial support and experience barriers to accessing postpartum services due to language, stigma, financial hardship, and systemic inequities. The Madrina Project provides culturally and linguistically appropriate perinatal peer support; conducts regular home or community-based visits; and offers screening, education, and referrals to behavioral health, substance use treatment, housing, food, and other services.

  • New England Baptist Hospital’s Project Search High School Transition program is a one-year, school-to-work program for youth with significant disabilities. Through this program, these youth receive real-life work experience, a weekly stipend, and training in employability and independent living skills to help them make successful transitions from school to productive adult life.

  • Emerson Hospital’s Home Care Visit program enhances community members’ ability to navigate the health care system by promoting resources to and opportunities for members to reduce their barriers to health care. Program staff visit recently discharged patients and conduct patient evaluations, provide care maintenance information, and share community resources to reduce hospital readmission. 

  • North Adams Regional Hospital sponsors Operation Better Start, which provides free services to clients and families to address health issues including obesity, failure to thrive, eating disorders, hypertension, food allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and sports nutrition. For each client, the OBS nurse practitioner works directly with a registered dietitian and the patient’s family to generate a comprehensive treatment plan with individualized, achievable goals.



All Massachusetts Community Benefits reports, including information about the goals and impact of each program, are available on the AGO’s Community Benefits webpage. 



The Community Benefits Program is managed by Health Care Analyst Maeva Veillard Perry of the AGO’s Health Care Division and Senior Health Policy Advisor Sandra Wolitzky of the AGO's Health Care and Fair Competition Bureau.  



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