The Georgia HEART Hospital Program, which GCF operates as a subsidiary organization, is helping rural and critical access hospitals take advantage of an innovative opportunity to increase their funding and their ability to Help Enhance Access to Rural Treatment, or “HEART.”
For years, Georgia’s rural hospitals have been facing a financial crisis due to demographic, economic, and healthcare industry challenges. This crisis jeopardizes the access of rural Georgians to adequate health care. In response, in 2016, Georgia’s elected officials enacted Senate Bill 258, legislation that awards Georgia income tax credits to individual and corporate taxpayers who contribute to qualified rural hospital organizations (RHOs) located in Georgia.
Because of the expert manner in which Georgia GOAL operates as an SSO under the Education Expense Credit program, GCF created Georgia HEART to serve eligible rural hospitals who are participating in the Rural Hospital Organization Expense Credit program.