Georgia HEART Hospital Program will begin accepting 2019 tax credit applications on its website, www.georgiaheart.org, beginning at 9 am on October 1, 2018. The Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit provides 100 percent Georgia income tax credits to individual and corporate taxpayers who contribute to qualified rural hospitals organizations (RHOs) located in Georgia. With the goal of enhancing access to rural healthcare, this program is already making a big difference. Funds were depleted as of June 30, 2018, therefore this early application date is important for those wishing to participate again in 2019.
The Georgia HEART Hospital Program was established with the sole purpose of assisting hospitals with the administration of this tax credit. Hospital participation is limited to certain rural, Georgia hospitals that meet criteria established by the law, such as population, acceptance of Medicaid and Medicare, and uncompensated care. There are currently 58 hospitals qualified throughout the state, of which 52 are currently participating in Georgia HEART. Coffee Regional Medical Center is one of those.
The Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit has enabled Georgia businesses and tax payers to redirect their Georgia income tax liability to help support these qualified hospitals. This tax credit allows Georgians to donate up to $60 million, per year, for rural Georgia hospitals. Each hospital has access to up to $4 million of tax credits (until total annual $60 million cap is met). Georgia tax payers who donate to this program receive a direct tax credit from the State of Georgia when filing their taxes the following year. This tax credit is 100 percent, thanks to HB 769 that Governor Nathan Deal signed May 2 of this year. This increase went into effect on July 1 and applied to previous donations in 2018. The tax credit was 90 percent before HB 769.
Coffee Regional Medical Center has partnered with the Georgia HEART Hospital Program to assist in the management of these donations. Those wishing to participate must go online to www.georgiaheart.org and complete an online application, beginning October 1, indicating the amount you wish to donate and listing Coffee Regional Medical Center as the designated recipient. The application may also be printed and faxed for submission.
“The Rural Hospital Tax Credit allows both businesses and individuals to assure their tax dollars are spent at home.” said Vicki Lewis, CEO of Coffee Regional Medical Center. “CRMC will invest every dollar donated to the services, equipment and structure of our hospital to assure we can fulfill our mission and purpose to provide healthcare for our community”
Donations made to CRMC under the rural hospital tax credit will be used to grow vital healthcare services for our region. These services include cardiology, mother & baby, oncology care & services, and orthopedic care and surgical services.