Boston Medical Center installs solar panels to pay patients’ electric bills

A primary care physician at Boston Medical Center opted to step in and help after many patients reported they couldn’t afford the electricity needed for their medical needs, leaving them without breathing machines and refrigeration. 

Anna Goldman, MD, decided to tackle the issue head-on, working with leadership at the nonprofit hospital to launch a program to provide patients with electricity, dubbed the Clean Power Prescription.

The initiative aimed to help patients reduce their utility costs. Those with chronic conditions with limited financial means were prioritized, and some 80 people benefited from the help of power generated from 519 solar panels installed on the hospital’s roof. 

Half of the energy generated is used to power the medical center and the rest going to patients, providing them with about $50 per month in utility credits.

Goldman, who is also Boston Medical Center’s director of climate and sustainability, also worked with a team to write 1,674 letters to utility companies, asking them to keep the lights on for patients in need, despite their limited ability to pay. All of this is part of a larger effort from the hospital to address “energy poverty”, which can reduce patient outcomes and add loads of stress. 

The price tag for the Clean Power Prescription is steep, costing Boston Medical $1.6 million. However, subsidies from the Inflation Reduction Act offset some 60% of the cost. 

Goldman said the hospital is looking to expand the program to help more patients in the future, with $11 million in additional solar panel installations planned. 

For the full story, read NPR Boston’s coverage at the link below.