Kentucky's 126 hospitals spent more than $5 billion on salaries, supplies and services in 2008, which rippled through the economy to support other businesses and jobs in the community, according to a new report from the Kentucky Hospital Association. Hospitals were the largest private employer in many communities and the eighth largest statewide, and generated $576.7 million in tax revenue directly or through their employees. Among other care and services provided in 2008, the state's hospitals treated more than 2.2 million people in their emergency departments and almost 643,000 inpatients, and provided more than $1.06 billion in community benefit and $675 million in uncompensated care.