The Medical Assistance Program began in 1996 when Vitalyst Health Foundation sold its hospitals and transitioned into St. Luke’s Charitable Health Trust. The Medical Assistance Program was established as a charity care program using restricted funds from several donors as well as a general fund allocated for charity care.

Funding for the Medical Assistance Program primarily comes from four endowments: The Joseph C. Theisen Endowment, the Charles J. Felton Endowment for Vision, the Charles J. Felton Endowment for Hearing, and the Charles A. Barrow St. Luke’s Heart/Lung Center Trust . These are all restricted funds, allocated for charity care directly related to alcoholic rehabilitation, eye and vision care, hearing care, and cardiopulmonary care, respectively. There are also non-restricted funds which are currently allocated for heart and lung screenings. While funds are not specifically restricted to infants and children, Vitalyst Health Foundation places an emphasis on care for children, youth, and families.

Vitalyst Health Foundation’s Medical Assistance Program provides direct support to community partners that, in turn, assist low income, uninsured (or underinsured) people with vision, hearing, substance abuse recovery services, and cardiopulmonary programs. For this program, low income is defined as below 150% of Federal Poverty level. For 2018, 150% of Federal Poverty is $18,210 for a single person plus $6,480 per additional person in the household.