Essential Data, an annual snapshot of our nearly 400 members and the people and communities they serve, tells the story of how essential hospitals overcome significant financial challenges to bring exceptional care to people who face social and economic barriers to good health and health care access.
Millions of people rely on essential hospitals for care across the continuum, jobs and economic activity, and front-line leadership during times of crisis.
This year’s report primarily features data from national databases, as well as data collected through our annual Member Characteristics Survey. Our hospitals are tirelessly working to increase access to high-quality care and specialty services, all while operating on margins of -7.1% compared with -2.3% for all other hospitals, based on Medicare cost report data.
Essential Data 2025: Our Hospitals, Our Patients, additionally found that essential hospitals:
- Provided $8.6 billion in charity care, or 29% of all charity care in the United States, despite representing only 6% of hospitals nationwide
- Served communities where 16% of individuals live below the poverty line, and 2.7 million people are unemployed
- Accounted for nearly a third of the nation’s level I trauma centers and 43% of burn care beds
- Employed more than 960,000 people nationally and drove more than $307 billion in state economic output
Infographics and narrative stories throughout the report illustrate our findings, documenting the vital role essential hospitals play in caring for underserved people and communities.