North Carolina Hospitals Provided $8.7 Billion in Community Benefits in 2025

New report highlights how hospitals are improving health, expanding access and strengthening communities across the state 
 
RALEIGH, N.C. — October 1, 2026 — North Carolina hospitals and health systems provided an estimated $8.7 billion in community benefits in 2025, according to a new report from the North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA). 
 
Where Care Meets Community: How North Carolina Hospitals Build a Healthier State highlights how hospitals are working beyond their walls to improve health, prevent illness, expand access to care, build the healthcare workforce, and strengthen communities. 
 
“North Carolina hospitals are doing much more than caring for people when they are sick,” said Josh Dobson, NCHA President and CEO. “They are helping people stay healthier, expanding access to care, and working with community partners to address the needs that shape health across our state.” 
 
The report includes $464 million in healthcare workforce education and training, $130 million in community health improvement, $113 million in health-related research and $178 million in subsidized health services. Hospitals also provided $1.7 billion in charity care and absorbed significant costs associated with Medicare and Medicaid care that was not fully reimbursed. 
 
The report illustrates the many ways hospitals contribute to the health and well-being of their communities, including working with community partners to address local health needs, supporting patients and families, developing the healthcare workforce, expanding access to care, and investing in research and innovation. 
 
“Community benefit is about more than a dollar figure,” Dobson said. “It represents the people, programs and partnerships hospitals support every day to help make North Carolina healthier.” 
 
Where Care Meets Community is available at https://nchealthcare.yearly.report/where-care-meets-community and at https://www.ncha.org/. 
 
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About the North Carolina Healthcare Association 
Founded in 1918, North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA) is the united voice of the North Carolina healthcare community. Representing more than 150 hospitals, health systems, physician groups and other healthcare organizations, NCHA works with our members to improve the health of North Carolina communities by advocating for sound public policies and collaborative partnerships and by providing insights, services, support and education to expand access to high quality, efficient, affordable and integrated health care for all North Carolinians.