Providence Invested $73 Million in Southwest Washington Region in 2020, Report Shows

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Providence has released an annual community investment report highlighting different ways that Providence addressed “the most difficult public health crisis of our time” last year in the communities that it serves by acting “to provide short-term solutions while driving long term positive change by investing in communities to build a more equitable and sustainable future,” according to a Providence news release.

According to the report, Providence invested a total of $73 million in its Southwest Washington region, which includes Providence Centralia Hospital, St. Peter Hospital in Olympia and clinic locations in Lewis, Thurston, Mason and Grays Harbor counties, in 2020. Of that $73 million, $52 million went toward covering unpaid Medicaid and other government programs, and $9 million went towards providing free and discounted care for uninsured and underinsured patients.

For comparison, $12.4 million went towards free and discounted care in 2019, $12 million in 2018, and $9.6 million in 2017.

Additional community investment included $7 million toward health professional education and research, $5 million in subsidized health services and $400,000 in community health improvement and strategic partnerships, according to Providence.



“The work done in our communities is fundamental to our organization’s mission and a demonstration of our values in action. We also know that to be effective, this work must be done in collaboration and solidarity with communities,” said Rod Hochman, M.D. president and CEO of Providence. “As we continue to serve under-resourced populations and advance health equity and social justice in our communities, Providence remains committed to our vision of creating health for a better world.”

In Olympia, Providence partnered with the city government to provide temporary micro-housing for the unsheltered in 2020, and the medical provider states that it “has become an ally of municipalities to address the housing issue.”

Said Darin Goss, chief executive for Providence in Southwest Washington, “Our community benefit connects families with preventive care to keep them healthy, fills gaps in community services and provides opportunities that bring hope in difficult times.”