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dc.contributor.advisorJ. Phillip Thompson.en_US
dc.contributor.authorMella, Katherine M. (Katherine Manuela)en_US
dc.contributor.otherMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning.en_US
dc.coverage.spatialn-us-maen_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-19T21:46:21Z
dc.date.available2014-09-19T21:46:21Z
dc.date.copyright2014en_US
dc.date.issued2014en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90211
dc.descriptionThesis: M.C.P., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, 2014.en_US
dc.descriptionCataloged from PDF version of thesis.en_US
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references (pages 73-79).en_US
dc.description.abstractThe new community benefit guidelines for non-profit hospitals enacted by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) present major opportunities for the public health and planning fields alike. Given that social determinants-the economic and social conditions that affect our health-play a disproportionate role in shaping health outcomes, hospitals are in a unique position to broadly impact population health and community development by investing their benefit dollars in preventative and more meaningful activities. By updating the community benefit standard to include periodic health needs assessments with input from diverse community representatives; requiring an implementation strategy that outlines how hospitals will address identified health needs; and redesigning IRS Form 990 to include Schedule H to better capture hospitals' spending, the new guidelines have the potential to transform how hospitals allocate their community benefit resources. Massachusetts is one of several states that had implemented similar guidelines in line with the new ACA provisions. As such, this thesis focuses on Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as a case study to better understand the impact of the Attorney General's Voluntary Guidelines on its community benefit program, and, by extension, the health of MGH's three target communities: Charlestown, Chelsea, and Revere. The case study unveiled various findings, including the importance of community engagement and capacity building; the strength of the coalition model; and the integral role of collaboration in fostering successful and sustainable programs. Given the research conducted, this thesis outlines recommendations for more nuanced and well-defined community benefit guidelines. Its discussion concludes with further research considerations and an argument for the inclusion of "health in all policies," given the countless and inter-related factors that shape our health outcomes.en_US
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityby Katherine M. Mella.en_US
dc.format.extent79 pagesen_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherMassachusetts Institute of Technologyen_US
dc.rightsM.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.urihttp://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582en_US
dc.subjectUrban Studies and Planning.en_US
dc.titleIn sickness and in wealth : hospitals, community benefits, and the Affordable Care Acten_US
dc.title.alternativeHospitals, community benefits, and the Affordable Care Acten_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.degreeM.C.P.en_US
dc.contributor.departmentMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Urban Studies and Planning
dc.identifier.oclc890371512en_US


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