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The annual community investment report from the Missouri Hospital Association, which includes community benefit and economic impact data, underscores hospitals’ essential role in maintaining and improving Missourians' health while providing a key to unlocking economic value in communities throughout the state. A total of 133 hospitals participated in the report that showed Missouri hospitals provided $680 million in charity care in 2012, which is a 9% increase from the 2011 level, and a 32% increase since 2010. Hospitals’ total uncompensated care includes both charity care and bad debt. When they are added together, Missouri hospitals reported more than $1.17 billion in uncompensated care. Although uncompensated care is an important component of hospitals’ value locally and statewide, it is only one of the many activities that hospitals undertake to strengthen the communities they serve. These contributions include absorbing the unpaid costs Medicaid beneficiaries, helping train the health care workforce, providing free clinic services and donating to local causes. When these services are added to hospitals’ total value, the community investment total in Missouri comes to almost $2.5 billion. Locally, the Salem Memorial District Hospital in 2012 provided $253,807 in charity care costs and had a bad debt expense of $1.3 million for a total of uncompensated care of $1,558,000. Combine that with the unpaid costs of treating Medicaid patients of $290,371 and health professional education costs of $14,000, the Salem Hospital provided over a $1.86 million community investment. According to Hospital Administrator Dennis Pryor, the charity care cost from 2010 and 2011 has remained about the same, while the bad debt expense and unpaid costs of treating Medicaid patients has continued to accelerate each year. Between 2014 and 2019 due to the Affordable Care Act, taxpayer relief legislation and sequestration, Missouri hospitals will experience nearly $4 billion in payment cuts. Without additional health insurance coverage through the health insurance marketplace and Medicaid reform, hospitals will continue to experience significant uncompensated care costs. In addition to delivering care, Missouri Hospitals improve the health of the community, provide civic leadership and generate additional economic activity. In 2012, Missouri hospitals employed 123,601 full-time equivalent employees and invested more than $1.5 billion in capital projects.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has released their arrest reports. On Thursday, February 6^th at 8:25 in the evening, 22-year old Michael Sileo of Salem was arrested in Dent County on a Camden County warrant for failure to appear on a charge of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Dent County Jail. Later that evening at 9:33, 17-year old Michael Shaw of Salem was arrested in Dent County and charged with felony distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the Dent County Jail and put on a 24-hour hold. On Saturday, February 8^th at 1:17 in the early morning, 41-year old Scott Whitaker of Salem was arrested in Phelps County for driving while intoxicated, failure to signal, and no insurance. He was taken to the Phelps County Jail and put on a 12-hour hold.

The Missouri Department of Transportation will continue roadwork in our area this week. In Dent County, culvert pipe maintenance will take place on Highway 19 at Route B and on Route N between Highway 19 and the end of state maintenance today through Friday. Roadside maintenance will take place on Route B between Highway 19 and Highway 72 today through Friday. In Phelps County, roadside maintenance will take place on Route H between Highway 63 and Route C in Dent County today through Friday. During these projects, one lane will be open and crews will flag traffic through this work area. For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-275-6636.

Attention Salem High School Seniors…don’t delay to file your FAFSA today. The Missouri priority deadline is March 1^st filing for both federal and state grant money. You can file online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and if you need help contact Salem High School Counselor Rebecca Fryer by calling (573) 578-4563 for an appointment.

The Salem Memorial District Hospital will conduct a General Health Screening on Wednesday, February 12^th and Thursday, February 13^th from 6:00 to 9:00 am in the outpatient surgery area. They will offer a health fair profile for $30 and fasting is required for this test. Tests for diabetes, thyroid function, kidney function and prostate specific antigen will be offered for $10 each and a bone density test will also be offered for $35. They will check your blood pressure and body fat percentage for FREE. For more information regarding the General Health Screening, call the hospital at 729-6626.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol would like to remind the public that driver examination stations throughout the state will be closed in observance of the a few holidays this month. They will be closed for Lincoln's birthday on Wednesday, February 12^th. Normal operations will resume on Thursday, February 13^th. The stations will also be closed for Washington's birthday on Monday, February 17^th. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, February 18^th. The Patrol encourages motorists and watercraft operators to protect themselves by making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint.

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