According to the American Hospital Association, 57% of the 5198 non-federal, short-term community hospitals in the U.S. operate as private, nonprofit organizations. 25% operate as for-profit and 19% are owned and operated by state and local government. To maintain their tax-exempt status which relieves them of obligations for income and state property taxes, they are required to provide a commensurate level of public benefit aka ‘charity care’.