Our impact on Georgia
Medicaid’s impact on us
A reduction to the Medicaid budget means vital services would be at risk. Children’s is a small percentage of the overall Georgia Medicaid budget.
Yet, Children’s is the largest Medicaid provider in the state.
- We see eight out of 10 pediatric inpatient Medicaid cases in metro Atlanta and four out of 10 in the state.
- More than half of our billed charges are for Medicaid patients.*
Measuring Our Impact: Community Benefit Report
As you read this, lifesaving work is happening in our three hospitals—from heart transplants to surgeries to remove brain tumors. Caring for more than half a million patients each year, Children’s treated children from all 159 Georgia counties in 2008. It doesn't stop there.
We receive payment that is approximately 25 percent less than cost. This is much less than the amount Medicare reimburses for adult cases. In 2008, we provided $103 million in unreimbursed care.
As a result, children in Georgia are disproportionately affected by any reduction to Medicaid.
- The average spending on a Medicaid child is $1,524.
- For other enrollees, it is $7,987.
- For every 1 percent reduction in Medicaid provider payments, Children’s is negatively impacted by approximately $3 million.
*Children’s meets all Certificate of Need (CON) requirements.
Our impact
Our economic impact on the state
A report from the Georgia Institute of Technology found that the total economic presence of Children’s in Georgia for 2008 was
$1.7 billion and 14,000 jobs.
- Children’s directly employs 7,400 and serves patients from all 159 Georgia counties, making our impact on Georgia’s economy significant.
- Based on the two most important factors in the Georgia economy, employment and employee compensation, our economic presence rivals that of the new Kia automotive plant in west Georgia.
Our impact on children
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta operates three hospitals and 16 neighborhood locations, including four Immediate Care Centers, one Primary Care Center, multiple outpatient rehabilitation centers and Marcus Autism Center.
In 2009, Children’s:
- Saw 282,856 unique patients from all 159 Georgia counties.
- Managed 25,346 hospital admissions.
- Performed 38,734 inpatient surgical procedures, which ranks among the highest in the country for children’s hospitals.
When kids need care, most parents turn to our Emergency Department, where in 2009 we had 197,586 visits.
- Children’s at Egleston and Children’s at Scottish Rite are the only Level II pediatric trauma centers in the state.
- We treat two-thirds of all Georgia pediatric trauma cases.
Studies show children need specialists.
- Four of the five pediatric neurosurgeons in Georgia work at Children’s.
- We are the only facility in Georgia for pediatric heart transplant; in fact, we have performed 99.5 percent of the pediatric heart transplants in Georgia since 1988.
- We also performed all pediatric kidney and liver transplants in the state in 2008.
A 2009 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation reports that the well-being of Georgia’s children ranks 42nd in the nation. Children’s is taking a lead on improving this ranking as part of our 10-year strategy.
Children’s is an academic, strategic or research partner with Emory University School of Medicine, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Medical College of Georgia.