The Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Revised May 9, 2006 |
| Report Number |
98-968 |
| Authors |
Barbara English, Knowledge Services Group |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
The Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 1946 (P.L. 79-725), commonlyknown as the Hill-Burton Act, was enacted to provide federal financial assistance for theplanning, construction, and improvement of health care facilities through grants, loans,and guaranteed loans under Title VI and later Title XVI of the Public Health ServiceAct. Since 1946, the Hill-Burton program has provided assistance to more than 6,900hospitals and other health care facilities in more than 4,000 communities.The original legislation stipulated that, in return for assistance, facilities wererequired to provide free care for 20 years to eligible persons unable to pay for healthcare services. Although there has not been any Title VI funding authority for theprogram since FY1974, many facilities that received Hill-Burton funds continue to havean obligation to provide a certain level of uncompensated care. Facilities funded underTitle XVI must provide uncompensated care in perpetuity.This report provides information on the act, the obligations and eligibilityrequirements for free care, and sources for further information.
