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Penn State Health

EIN 47-3769205 · Hershey, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PENN STATE HEALTH'S MISSION IS TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND BEYOND. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PATIENTS WITH EXCELLENT, COMPASSIONATE AND EQUITABLE CARE; EDUCATES AND TRAINS (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)

Income
$856.6 million
Spending
$1.2 billion
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-15.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 96%
Employees
6,022
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$3.2 million, director/ceo - part year

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 167% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $931.6 million spent. TO PROMOTE, SUPPORT, AND FURTHER THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY; TO PROMOTE HEALTH THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT AND/OR SUPPORT OF FACILITIES AND OTHER ASSETS THAT PROVIDE HEALTH CARE SERVICES; TO INTEGRATE COMMUNITY-BASED AND ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER HEALTH CARE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED OUTCOMES AND LIMIT THE COSTS OF CARE VIA IMPROVED EFFICIENCIES; TO SUPPORT FINANCIALLY AND OPERATIONALLY THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE; TO SUPPORT THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE OF THE MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER PURSUANT TO THAT CERTAIN DECREE OF THE ORPHANS COURT OF DAUPHIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA DATED DECEMBER 17, 1968 (THE MSHMC TRUST); AND TO DO ALL LAWFUL ACTS INCIDENTAL TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF SAID CHARITABLE, (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES. PENN STATE HEALTH PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING, BOTH OPERATIONALLY AND FINANCIALLY, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY'S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. THE PURPOSES OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS ARE INTEGRALLY INTERTWINED AND MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE. PENN STATE HEALTH OFFERS THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE ADDITIONAL PLATFORMS FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AS WELL AS GENERATES SHARED REVENUE, WHEREAS THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE OFFERS PENN STATE HEALTH ACCESS TO INNOVATIONS, CLINICAL TRIALS, DISCOVERIES AND A PIPELINE OF CLINICIANS AND SCIENTISTS. IN RECENT YEARS, THE PENN STATE HEALTH SYSTEM HAS UNDERGONE SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH AND MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS CREATING A HIGH-QUALITY, LARGE SCALE INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM TO SERVE THE POPULATION OF SOUTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA, BY FOCUSING ON BUILDING THE ACADEMIC TERTIARY/QUATERNARY CARE RESOURCES OF ITS RELATED ORGANIZATION, MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER. THE PENN STATE HEALTH SYSTEM HAS SIX, NONPROFIT TAX-EXEMPT, ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS. THE MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER (MSHMC) IS A 639-LICENSED BED ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER LOCATED IN HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA. ST. JOSEPH REGIONAL HEALTH NETWORK (SJRHN) IS A 204-LICENSED BED HOSPITAL IN THE BERKS COUNTY REGION. HOLY SPIRIT MEDICAL CENTER (HSMC) WAS ACQUIRED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2020 AND IS A 306-LICENSED BED HOSPITAL IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENN STATE HEALTH HAMPDEN MEDICAL CENTER (PSHHMC), OPENED IN OCTOBER 2021, IS A 110-LICENSED BED HOSPITAL ALONGSIDE INTERSTATE 81 IN HAMPDEN TOWNSHIP. PENN STATE HEALTH LANCASTER MEDICAL CENTER (PSHLMC), OPENED IN OCTOBER 2022, IS A 142-LICENSED BED HOSPITAL LOCATED IN LANCASTER COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE (PPI), IS AN 89-BED ACUTE CARE PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY THAT SPECIALIZES IN PSYCHIATRIC AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. ALL ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS PROVIDE INPATIENT, OUTPATIENT AND EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES. ON JULY 1, 2023, PENN STATE HEALTH ASSUMED 100% GOVERNANCE CONTROL OF HARRISBURG-BASED PENNSYLVANIA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE (PPI) AND INTEGRATED THE SPECIALTY HOSPITAL INTO ITS OPERATIONS IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. PPI WAS CREATED IN 2008 AS A COLLABORATION OF PENN STATE MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER AND PINNACLE HEALTH SYSTEM. PPI IS AN 89-LICENSED BED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITAL THAT OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND SERVES MORE THAN 45,000 PATIENTS EACH YEAR THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE THAT INCLUDES INPATIENT CARE, PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAMS, OUTPATIENT CLINICS AND SPECIALTY ACCESS. THE INSTITUTE IS A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRY AND A SITE FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE CLINICAL TRIALS NETWORK. PPI DEMONSTRATES PENN STATE HEALTH'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING VITAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN PENNSYLVANIA. PENN STATE HEALTH HAS THREE SINGLE MEMBER LLCS AS FOLLOWS: PENN STATE HEALTH COMMUNITY MEDICAL GROUP PENN STATE HEALTH'S COMMUNITY MEDICAL GROUP IS CHARGED WITH SERVING THE REGIONS SURROUNDING HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER AND THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. CURRENTLY COMPOSED OF 650 PROVIDERS AND 2,000 TOTAL STAFF, THE COMMUNITY MEDICAL GROUP STAFFS EACH OF THE SIX COMMUNITY ACUTE CARE MEDICAL CENTERS. SERVICES INCLUDE INPATIENT, SPECIALTY AND PRIMARY CARE PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON HIGH QUALITY CARE CLOSE TO HOME. PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES SERVICE DAUPHIN, CUMBERLAND, BERKS AND LANCASTER COUNTIES WITH A FULL ARRAY OF ADULT AND PEDIATRIC GENERAL SERVICES AS WELL AS WALK-IN AND URGENT CARE. COMMUNITY MEDICAL GROUP COVERS APPROXIMATELY 215,000 PRIMARY CARE PATIENTS. SUBSPECIALTY SERVICES ARE ALSO ROBUST IN EACH COUNTY WITH QUATERNARY CARE NEEDS BEING REFERRED TO HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER. INPATIENT SERVICES INCLUDE HOSPITALIST, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, CRITICAL CARE, NEONATOLOGY, OBSTETRICS, ANESTHESIA, AS WELL AS DIAGNOSTIC AND INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY. PENN STATE HEALTH LIFE LION LLC PENN STATE HEALTH LIFE LION LLC (LL LLC) IS THE HEALTH SYSTEM'S COMMUNITY-FACING 911 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE (EMS) PROVIDER. INCORPORATED IN THE SUMMER OF 2020, THIS BROUGHT TOGETHER SEVERAL ESTABLISHED THIRD-PARTY EMS ENTITIES UNDER THE PSH UMBRELLA AND HELPED SOLIDIFY AND EXPAND THE 911 SERVICE THESE EMS ENTITIES WERE PROVIDING FOR MANY YEARS. LL LLC IS COMPRISED OF APPROXIMATELY 270 CLINICIANS AND SUPPORT STAFF AND PROVIDES 24/7 911 EMERGENCY SERVICES TO OVER 60 MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT CUMBERLAND, PERRY, YORK, LANCASTER AND DAUPHIN COUNTIES. LL LLC RESPONDS TO OVER 30,000 CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE IN A GIVEN YEAR AND IS DISPATCHED THROUGH THE 911 CENTERS OF THE COUNTIES NOTED. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT BOTH THE BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) AND ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS) LEVELS, RESPONDING TO ANY 911 CALL THAT REQUIRES PRE-HOSPITAL EMS CARE. LL LLC IS LICENSED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF PA DEPT. OF HEALTH BUREAU OF EMS, AND FOLLOWS ALL CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS SET FORTH BY THE PA DOH FOR EMS AGENCIES. THESE 911 PATIENTS ARE TRANSPORTED TO MANY DIFFERENT HOSPITALS, NOT JUST PENN STATE HEALTH HOSPITALS, AS DIRECTED BY THE PATIENT/FAMILY REQUEST OR COMMONWEALTH OF PA EMS PROTOCOLS. BY PROVIDING THIS SERVICE, PENN STATE HEALTH HELPS TO ALLEVIATE THESE MUNICIPALITIES OF THE COST AND

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2016.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.