Christus Health Southwestern Louisiana
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED AND SHALL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS PURPOSES OF ADVANCING, PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING THE HEALTH CARE MINISTRIES OF THE SPONSORING CONGREGATIONS WHICH OPERATE AND ARE CONTROLLED IN CONFORMITY WITH THE ETHICAL AND MORAL TEACHINGS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND PROMOTING EFFICIENT GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT, COOPERATIVE PLANNING AND THE SHARING OF RESOURCES AMONG SUCH HEALTH CARE MINISTRIES. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, THE CORPORATION'S MISSION SHALL BE TO EXTEND THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST, AND CONSISTENT THEREWITH, SHALL OPERATE ACCORDING TO THE DOCTRINES, RESOLUTIONS, DECREES AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE SPONSORING CONGREGATIONS, AND THE ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIRECTORS FOR CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES AS PROMULGATED OR AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS.
- Income
- $303.5 million
- Spending
- $309.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- -1.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 98%
- Employees
- 1,376
- Volunteers
- 91
- Highest pay
- $6.5 million, former director (term 2/24)
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: 43 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 47% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (health care, over $100m).
Independent board
5 of 252 of 4 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (5)
- $42.3 million spent. PATIENT CARE SERVICES CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana responds to the health care needs of the community through services provided at two campuses: - CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital, a 148-bed hospital in Lake Charles - CHRISTUS Ochsner Lake Area Hospital, a 88-bed hospital in Lake Charles Each facility shares the objective of leading the way to a healthier community. CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana is located in the Parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis, serving a population of 220,567 individuals in fiscal year 2025. In fiscal year 2025, we served individuals in various ways, including: 52,107 visits to our emergency department 1,261 inpatient surgery procedures 16,557 outpatient surgery procedures 9,822 patients admitted for care 132,966 patients who received outpatient care
- $153.8 million spent. OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana provides services to individuals covered under government-sponsored programs, including Medicare, TRICARE, and others. The unreimbursed costs of these services are reported to the state but are not included in the community benefit reports. In FY2025, CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana served 161,065 patients under these programs, with unreimbursed costs totaling $48,854,103. Medicare is the largest single payor classification of patients served by this hospital. The payment rate for inpatient services is on a per-case rate, calculated based on the diagnostic-related group into which the patient is categorized. Medicare reimburses outpatient services based on its fee schedule.
- $54.4 million spent. CHARITY CARE AND COMMUNTIY BENEFIT ACTIVITY In keeping with the mission, values, and vision of CHRISTUS Health, CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana provides charity care services in a manner that respects the dignity of the patients and their families. CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana provides charity care to individuals who are unable to pay for medically necessary services. Charity care includes free or discounted healthcare provided according to the organization's financial assistance policy, which is based on federal poverty guidelines. In FY2025, 3,085 uninsured patients at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) received care at no cost, while 0 patients between 301% and 400% FPL were charged on a sliding scale and adjusted in compliance with the AGB rates as listed on the entity's financial assistance policy. No patient was refused necessary medical care due to inability to pay. CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana actively participates in Louisiana Medicaid programs, which are designed to provide payment for health care services to individuals who meet specific financial and eligibility criteria. These requirements include an evaluation of both assets and income to determine program qualification. CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana also conducts a variety of community benefit activities to improve health and well-being in the communities it serves. These activities include health education, screenings, subsidized clinical services, research, cash and in-kind donations, and community building. In FY2025, CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana invested $9,409,024 in community benefit programs, impacting 45,154 Individuals.
- $6.8 million spent. CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana also undertook additional activities of comparable importance, including those conducted with volunteer labor or smaller in terms of expenses related to the poor & underserved and broader community. POOR & UNDERSERVED: EXPENSES OF $1,593,841; GRANTS OF $6,775,539 BROADER COMMUNITY: EXPENSE OF $996,026; GRANTS OF $6,363 OTHER: Expenses of $4,192,035
- (Expenses $ 6,781,902 including grants of $ 6,781,902)(Revenue $ 0) CHRISTUS Health Southwestern Louisiana also undertook additional activities of comparable importance, including those conducted with volunteer labor or smaller in terms of expenses related to the poor & underserved and broader community. POOR & UNDERSERVED: EXPENSES OF $1,593,841; GRANTS OF $6,775,539 BROADER COMMUNITY: EXPENSE OF $996,026; GRANTS OF $6,363 OTHER: Expenses of $4,192,035
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
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.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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