Community Benefits at Health First

The Vision of Health First calls for us to "Improve lives and communities. Every Person. Every time." To support this commitment, a Community Benefit Department facilitates and documents the numerous ways in which Health First gives back to the community above and beyond the provision of reimbursed healthcare services.

These include charity care, community education, support groups, subsidies above what is reimbursed by Medicaid for the actual costs to provide patient care to Medicaid insured, clinical student training and support for free clinics and other community organizations. Click here for the 2010 Community Report.

Health First gives back to the community

A system-wide Community Benefit Oversight Committee (CBOC) serves to create focus and accountability with respect to Health First and its charitable and community benefits. The Committee consists of Health First leadership and members of the Board of Directors. Meeting quarterly, the CBOC has targeted and is addressing three of the major disparities in Brevard County per recent research findings:

• Access to primary care
• Mental health and substance abuse
• Obesity and related health issues

The CBOC has initiated projects including the ED Patient Navigator program at Holmes Regional Medical Center to help uninsured patients in the ED connect with a community-based primary care provider for follow-up visits and assisting patients with the application process for Medicaid and/or Kid Care. Health First has also been an active participant in the Brevard Healthcare Forum’s annual event on childhood obesity,Get Active! Brevard.”  

 In addition, the CBOC is planning the "Caring for Brevard” community service days which is slated to take place in February 2010.  This inaugural event invites Health First associates, physicians and volunteers to lend a hand with various projects to benefit a local community organization.