Christus Health Southeast Texas

SUPPORTING THE HEALTH CARE MINISTRIES OF THE SPONSORING CONGREGATIONS IN EXTENDING THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST IN CONFORMITY WITH THE TEACHINGS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

COMMITMENT TO BENEFITING OUR COMMUNITIES - PATIENT CARE SERVICES CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM IS PART OF CHRISTUS HEALTH, FORMED IN 1999 TO STRENGTHEN THE 156-YEAR-OLD, FAITH-BASED HEALTH CARE MINISTRIES OF THE CONGREGATIONS OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD OF HOUSTON AND SAN ANTONIO. FOUNDED ON THE MISSION "TO EXTEND THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST," CHRISTUS IS CHALLENGED TO REACH OUT TO, AND BEYOND, THE MORE THAN 60 COMMUNITIES WE SERVE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. THE VISION OF CHRISTUS HEALTH AS A CATHOLIC, FAITH-BASED MINISTRY IS TO BE A LEADER, A PARTNER AND AN ADVOCATE IN THE CREATION OF INNOVATIVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS SOLUTIONS THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES SO THAT ALL MAY EXPERIENCE GOD'S HEALING PRESENCE AND LOVE. CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM RESPONDS TO THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICES PROVIDED AT FOUR CAMPUSES; THE 425-BED CHRISTUS HOSPITAL - ST. ELIZABETH IN BEAUMONT, THE 6-BED THE BEAUMONT BONE AND JOINT INSTITUTE, THE 2-BED ST. MARY OUTPATIENT CENTER IN PORT ARTHUR, AND CHRISTUS JASPER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, A 59-BED HOSPITAL IN JASPER. EACH OF THE FACILITIES OF CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM SHARES ONE OBJECTIVE -- WHICH IS TO LEAD THE WAY TO A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. CHRISTUS HEALTH SOUTHEAST TEXAS IS LOCATED IN FAR SOUTHEAST TEXAS, AND ITS SERVICE AREA EXTENDS TO THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THE STATE AND NORTHWARD INTO EAST TEXAS, AN AREA WHICH INCLUDES A POPULATION OF MORE THAN 524,263 INDIVIDUALS AS OF 2017. IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 ALONE, WE SERVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS IN VARIOUS WAYS INCLUDING 80,831 VISITS TO OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT; 4,612 INPATIENT SURGERY PROCEDURES; 15,699 OUTPATIENT SURGERY PROCEDURES; 15,162 PATIENTS WHO WERE ADMITTED TO OUR HOSPITALS FOR CARE AND 252,663 PATIENTS WHO RECEIVED OUTPATIENT CARE AT OUR FACILITIES. TOUCHING THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE AROUND US IS WHAT MAKES CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM STAND APART. ALLOWING OTHERS TO TOUCH US GIVES US A VISION FOR THE MEDICALLY NEEDY IN EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. WHETHER IT IS THE LIFE OF A CHILD EXPECTING A FUTURE FILLED WITH MIRACLES, THE LIFE OF A MAN IN NEED OF A CRITICAL HEART SURGERY, OR THE LIFE OF A WOMAN ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH TO HER FIRST CHILD, CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM'S HEALTH CARE SERVICES WORK TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE REGARDLESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO PAY. BY COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITIES, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, AND OTHER HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS, CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM'S VARIOUS ENTITIES HAVE STRENGTHENED THEIR ROLES AS MAJOR PROVIDERS OF COMPREHENSIVE, ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THESE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN A BLESSING BY HELPING CHRISTUS HEALTH SOUTHEAST TEXAS FURTHER CARE FOR THOSE IN NEED. FURTHERMORE, INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY SERVICES WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT DEDICATED EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS. THEY HELP TO BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE MINISTRIES AND THE COMMUNITIES, NURTURING CHRISTUS' MISSION TO MEET THE NEEDS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. OUR EMPLOYEES WORK BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF OUR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND ARE COMMITTED TO REACHING BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL HOSPITAL WALLS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES MAINTAIN GOOD HEALTH. UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE TO AS MUCH OF OUR PUBLIC AS POSSIBLE, CHRISTUS HEALTH PARTICIPATES IN GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MEDICAID, MEDICARE, CHAMPUS, TRICARE, USFHP AND OTHERS. IN ADDITION, WE PROVIDE SPECIFIC PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE DISCOUNTED SERVICES TO THOSE IN NEED WHO DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE OR WHO DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PROGRAMS. CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM PROVIDES A FULL RANGE OF INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES. IT CONDUCTS ITS ACTIVITIES AND SERVES ITS HEALTH CARE PURPOSE WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, CREED, RELIGION, GENDER, ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, AGE OR NATIONAL ORIGIN. EACH OF THE THREE HOSPITALS OF CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS PROVIDES A 24-HOUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT THAT IS OPEN TO SERVE ALL THOSE IN NEED OF EMERGENT CARE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM ALSO SUPPORTS MANY LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING TWO RURAL CLINICS IN JASPER AND KIRBYVILLE. AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AND AS PART OF CHRISTUS HEALTH, A REGIONAL GOVERNING BOARD COMPRISED LARGELY OF INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE MAKEUP OF THE AREA WE SERVE GUIDES CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM. WE HAVE AN OPEN MEDICAL STAFF COMPRISED OF QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS WHO WORK WITH US TO PROVIDE CARE TO OUR COMMUNITIES. ALL QUALIFIED PHYSICIANS WHO ARE GRANTED PRIVILEGES TO SERVE WITH US IN OUR HOSPITALS MUST UNDERGO A THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE CREDENTIALING PROCESS.

OTHER GOVERNMENT SPONSORED SERVICES IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISION OF CHARITY CARE AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES, CHRISTUS HEALTH PROVIDES SERVICES TO PERSONS COVERED UNDER GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING MEDICARE AND TRICARE. THE COSTS NOT REIMBURSED FOR THESE SERVICES ARE REPORTED TO THE STATE OF TEXAS. THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN REPORTS PREPARED FOLLOWING CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION GUIDELINES. CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM PROVIDES SERVICES TO PERSONS COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL MEDICARE PROGRAM, AND IN FACT, THIS IS THE LARGEST SINGLE PAYOR CLASSIFICATION OF PATIENTS SERVED BY THIS HOSPITAL. THE PAYMENT RATE FOR INPATIENT SERVICES IS ON A PER-CASE RATE, CALCULATED BASED ON THE DIAGNOSTIC-RELATED GROUP (DRG) INTO WHICH THE PATIENT IS CATEGORIZED. MEDICARE REIMBURSES OUTPATIENT SERVICES BASED ON ITS FEE SCHEDULE.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORTING CHARITY CARE AND MEDICAID CHRISTUS ADHERES TO THE CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION'S GUIDE FOR PLANNING AND REPORTING COMMUNITY BENEFIT (2012), AND COMPLIES WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORTING. COMMUNITY BENEFIT, REPORTED AS UNPAID COSTS, INCLUDES BOTH CHARITY CARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. TO THE LIMITS OF ITS RESOURCES, CHRISTUS HEALTH IS AN INSTITUTION OF PURELY PUBLIC CHARITY; THUS, THE MOST TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF CHRISTUS HEALTH'S CHARITABLE PURPOSE IS THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY. THIS FALLS INTO TWO CATEGORIES: CHARITY CARE AND UNPAID GOVERNMENT INDIGENT CARE. IN KEEPING WITH THE MISSION, VALUES, AND VISION OF CHRISTUS HEALTH, CHRISTUS SOUTHEAST TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM PROVIDES CHARITY CARE SERVICES IN A MANNER THAT RESPECTS THE DIGNITY OF THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. CHARITY CARE IS DEFINED AS SERVICES PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE OR AT A CHARGE THAT IS LESS THAN THE USUAL CHARGE FOR SUCH SERVICES. THE DETERMINATION AS TO THE AMOUNT TO CHARGE, IF ANY, IS ACCORDING TO A PATIENT'S ABILITY TO PAY AS DETERMINED BY THE ESTABLISHED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS WHOSE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES PLACE THEM AT OR UNDER 300 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES (FPL), SERVICES ARE PROVIDED WITHOUT ANY EXPECTATION OF PAYMENT. UNINSURED PATIENTS WHOSE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES PLACE THEM BETWEEN 300 AND 400 PERCENT OF FPL ARE CHARGED BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE, AND THOSE ABOVE 400 PERCENT RECEIVE DISCOUNTS BASED ON THE UNINSURED FEE SCHEDULE. NO PATIENT IS REFUSED NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO PAY. CHRISTUS HEALTH IS AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE STATES OF TEXAS, NEW MEXICO AND LOUISIANA MEDICAID PROGRAMS. THOSE PROGRAMS SEEK TO PROVIDE PAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO MEET CERTAIN FINANCIAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE EVALUATION OF BOTH ASSETS AND INCOME.