Millions of medical care dollars for indigents

The medically indigent, a group traditionally underserved with health care, can obtain some needed free services from Hill-Burton facilities. These facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and agencies) received Hill-Burton funds for their building programs and have, as a result, an obligation to provide a certain amount of uncompensated medical care to a defined medically indigent population. Health systems agencies (HSAS) or other interested agencies and groups can play an integral role in highlighting the Hill-Burton Program and helping the medically indigent obtain free care, This paper describes the Hill-Burton Program and explains how one HSA identified the Hill-Burton facilities in its area, determined the extent of their obligations, obtained allocation plans, and publicized and promoted the available health care services. From the interest shown by the community it was apparent that the HSA had provided a much needed and appreciated service that could be duplicated across the country by HSAS or other community groups.