Six ways Intermountain Health earns its nonprofit status

Intermountain Health’s nonprofit status is central to our mission— it supports our pursuit to do more good for our communities. This community-first approach is one of the ways we operate differently than for-profit health systems. For every one dollar of expense, we reinvest ten cents into our local communities.

Here are six ways we’re different:

1. We put community first. For-profit healthcare’s first responsibility is to their shareholders, while nonprofit health’s priority focus is on the community. This includes providing care for people who may not be able to pay. In 2023 alone, Intermountain provided well over $220 million in charity care. In addition, we prioritize services needed by the community, even when what we are paid by Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance may not cover the cost of providing those services.
2. For-profit and nonprofit health are not the same. A recent study at Yale found that over the past 20 years, 95% of operating income in for-profit healthcare organizations went to shareholders. That totaled $2.6 trillion. As a nonprofit health organization, 100% of Intermountain’s operating income is invested back into the community through improved facilities, technology, and services.
3. We do pay a significant amount in taxes. Intermountain paid nearly $470 million in taxes in 2023. For example, while we’re exempt from paying some property taxes, we do pay some other property taxes, as well as payroll taxes and other types of taxes.
4. We reinvest in community benefit more than double the required amount. As a nonprofit health organization, Intermountain is exempted from paying certain taxes if we invest back in community benefit at least the value of the taxes we are exempt from paying. Our community benefit investments — supporting priority needs and vulnerable populations — are more than double the required amount. In addition to the $746 million invested in community benefit efforts in 2023, Intermountain invested an additional $567 million in other investments that have a positive impact in the community that go beyond general healthcare services. That means Intermountain invests more than $1.3 billion in efforts to support the communities and people we serve.
5. We meet the community need — sometimes at an operational loss. Intermountain covered the cost of care for nearly 350,000 individuals through financial assistance in 2023. We cover Medicaid shortfalls and insurance premiums to ensure everyone has access to high-quality care, and we invest in community collaborators who address social drivers of health like housing, food access, and more.
6. When we have income, we reinvest in the community to further our mission. The modest margin we earn is used to grow into new areas and invest in new buildings, equipment, and technology with a small amount saved to weather unanticipated challenges (like COVID-19). Ultimately, all dollars earned are reinvested in the communities we serve through increased access, provision of services, or other community initiatives. In addition to the direct community investments, we’re dedicated to caring for vulnerable populations, and we focus on keeping people and communities well. With 12 of our 33 hospitals in rural areas, we’re committed to keeping care close to home. Our focus on proactive care has us leading health, wellness, and clinical excellence, serving as a model health system, and transforming the industry.

At Intermountain Health, we are proud to be a nonprofit organization—it means we can reinvest in our communities and focus on what matters most: improving health and well-being for all. We invite you to join us in this mission, whether by collaborating with us, sharing our story, or simply learning more about how we’re making a difference together. Visit our Community Health webpage to learn more.