Local not-for-profit hospitals are giving beyond their required amount of free care, but critics say they should be doing more. An analysis by The Dallas Morning News shows that Texas Health Resources, Baylor Health Care System and Methodist Health System collected more than $4 billion in net patient revenue in 2009 and gave away more than $840 million, or 21%, in free care and community services. Not-for-profit hospitals must earn their tax exemptions by giving away 5% or more of their net patient revenue toward community benefit services, a standard that each of the three exceeded. Those services include free care for the poor and programs that positively affect the population surrounding their hospitals.
