As the health care reform debate rages on, Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union has recently taken action to help ensure underserved locals have access to health care.
The Broomall, Pa.-based credit union has recently donated $25,000 to Mercy Health System to provide funding for quality health care. According to Mercy Health System President/CEO H. Ray Welch Jr., the health status of the communities served by Mercy Health System falls below the national average.
"There is a need to provide health services to the growing number of uninsured, adversely impacted by the economic recession of America," said FMFCU President/CEO John D. Unangst. "We are proud to partner with Mercy Health System to help them fulfill their mission of providing quality, compassionate health care to the communities they serve. By partnering with them, we are helping fulfill our mission, which is one of people helping people."
The move represented the first installment of FMFCU's four-year $100,000 pledge to Mercy Health System. The $542 million credit union's donation will be used to offset the $39 million spent each year in community benefit costs, the unpaid cost of serving Medicaid patients and other public programs, along with the cost of providing community services. The donation will be evenly distributed among three of Mercy's four acute-care hospitals in which FMFCU has a branch: Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Mercy Philadelphia Hospital in West Philadelphia and Mercy Suburban Hospital located in East Norriton.
"This generous donation supports MHS's vision of providing access to compassionate quality health services for all members of the community with special concern for the poor," said Welch. "We thank FMFCU for their partnership and investment in organizations that are committed to improving the health of individuals and communities."
With 120 primary care and specialty physicians, Mercy Health System is a teaching community health system affiliated with Drexel University School and Medicine and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Mercy Health System consists of four acute-care hospitals, a home health care organization, several wellness centers, physician practices and a federal PACE program. It is also co-owner of managed care plans, Keystone Mercy Health Plan and Gateway Health Plan.
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