The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report containing several recommendations related to the ACA’s community benefit requirements, including asking Congress to specify what services and activities it considers sufficient community benefit. The report was requested by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-Texas) as part of a broader initiative to ensure that tax-exempt hospitals comply with the requirements. Given the COVID-19 pandemic and the positive image of hospitals, it is uncertain whether any immediate action will be taken as a result of this report. However, the report may put further pressure on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to increase oversight of hospitals’ community benefit activities. [K]ey recommendations raised in the GAO report and the reasoning provided [are included].

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