The Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program

Publication Date: May 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Health

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Abstract:

The Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 1946 (P.L. 79-725), commonly known as the Hill-Burton Act, was enacted to provide federal financial assistance for the planning, construction, and improvement of health care facilities through grants, loans, and guaranteed loans under Title VI and later Title XVI of the Public Health Service Act. Since 1946, the Hill-Burton program has provided assistance to more than 6,900 hospitals and other health care facilities in more than 4,000 communities. The original legislation stipulated that, in return for assistance, facilities were required to provide free care for 20 years to eligible persons unable to pay for health care services. Although there has not been any Title VI funding authority for the program since FY1974, many facilities that received Hill-Burton funds continue to have an obligation to provide a certain level of uncompensated care. Facilities funded under Title XVI must provide uncompensated care in perpetuity. This report provides information on the act, the obligations and eligibility requirements for free care, and sources for further information. It will be updated annually.