Stephens County Hospital Donations Rolling in Since Expanded Tax Credit

Stephens County Hospital is reaping the benefits of the expanded Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit.

As of July 1, anyone making a donation to a rural hospital will receive a 100% tax credit on their 2018 tax returns.

Hospital spokesperson Samantha Rickman says hundreds of pledges have come in since July 1st.

“The total for the 2018 Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit pledges is $572,406.14,” she said. “Donors are given 60 days from the day they receive their approval letter to make the donation. Our last donor letter deadline is the end of September. Therefore, the (hospital) board meeting will be scheduled for late October to determine the allocation for the funds.”

That means if you have not already done so, there’s still time to make your donation and have it count on your 2018 tax return as a charitable deduction.

Stephens County Hospital is a not-for-profit, 96-bed hospital in Toccoa, and as with most rural hospitals in Georgia, it has been struggling to stay afloat financially.

Stephens County Hospital officials say the facility provides more than $10.7 million dollars in charity, uncompensated care, and bad debt each year.

According to the Georgia Department of Community Health’s 2018 Rural Hospital Tax Credit Rankings of Financial Need, Stephens County Hospital ranks 10th out of the 58 rural hospitals listed. Rural Hospital Tax Credit 2018 Ranking of Financial Need

That’s slightly better than their 2017 ranking where they tied for 3rd with Emmanual Medical Center in Swainsboro.

Habersham County Medical Center in Clarkesville ranked 16th in 2018 and St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia ranked 23rd.