ABC resource highlights issue of uncompensated care.

"The Burden of Uncompensated Care in Brethren Retirement Centers and the Church" is the title of a new report in booklet form, from the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC). The Fellowship of Brethren Homes, a network of 23 Brethren-related retirement centers, is a ministry of ABC.

Currently Brethren homes accrue a total of $14 million in uncompensated care expenses annually, and the financial burden will only increase as future care needs for older adults increase, according to the report by ABC's Uncompensated Care Committee of Brian Black, Connie Burk Davis, Don Fecher, Tim Hissong, and Wally Landes. The report defines uncompensated care as "non-reimbursed care provided to residents...whose daily living costs are not covered by normal revenue" including residents' own assets, family ability or willingness to pay, private-pay insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare.

Uncompensated care "appears to be an insurmountable challenge" for the Brethren homes, the report says, in part because "the Church of the Brethren homes see it as their mission to care for persons even if they do not have the funds," the report said. A 2003 survey of the Brethren homes found that uncompensated care cost one facility nearly $4 million annually, or about 13 percent of its operating budget, and that several homes make annual appeals and set up "Good Samaritan" style funds to help pay for the expense. Even so, the 18 homes that responded to the survey raised only $740,342 against an expense of $14,393,615 in 2002. "That means that church support for uncompensated care amounts to 5.1 percent of the actual loss," the report said.

The report challenges individuals to take responsibility for planning for their own long-term care needs, giving several suggestions in areas such as long-term care insurance and stewardship of personal assets. The report also challenges the denomination to educate church members about the problem and to work with Brethren homes to provide care, giving suggestions for action by congregations, districts, and the homes.

The booklet will be distributed widely in the denomination—with copies to go to delegates at Annual Conference, to congregations in the Source mailing, and to district ministers and may be used by retirement centers as information for boards, prospective residents, and major donors. ABC suggests that congregations use the booklet as an educational and study piece.

For a copy of the booklet, contact Ralph McFadden at the ABC office, 800-323-8039 ext. 305 or e-mail rmcfadden_abc@brethren.org.