Oregon
Hospital
Best
Practice Agreement
Financial
Assistance Policies and Procedures
Adopted by Portland area hospitals and recommended for adoption by
all Oregon hospitals June 2001.
Adopted by Lincoln County Hospitals Fall 2001.
Initially developed and implemented by Marion / Polk County
Hospitals Jan 2000.
Income Guidelines:
·
100% assistance for families at or below 150% FPL.
·
Partial assistance for families between 150-200% of FPL.
·
Case-by-case consideration for assistance for families above 200% FPG.
·
Every step taken to assure a family does not declare bankruptcy from
medical bills.
·
Asset verification may include liquid and non-liquid assets dependent
upon situation.
Cultural Accessibility:
·
Financial application and materials written at grade school reading
level.
·
Materials in four most frequently used languages for demographic area.
·
Other language interpretation available as needed.
·
Published communications such as signs, business cards, in access points
of care, specifically: ED, BO, admitting, urgent care centers.
Public and Employee
Awareness:
·
Hospital staff knows how to refer a person for assistance.
·
Notification of assistance on every bill sent to patients (when
technically possible).
·
Brochure available to public that explains the Financial Assistance
process in user friendly terminology.
·
Information available during registration process about assistance
programs.
User Friendly Process:
·
Help in completing financial qualification process.
·
Help with completing Oregon Health Plan application process.
·
Coordination with safety net clinics (generic Assistance Applications on
hand the hospitals will accept).
·
Standardize application process in Portland area.
·
Same application process regardless of amount owed.
Collection Process:
·
No interest or late penalties for families with incomes below 200% FPL.
·
Review any situations where family states medical bills will cause
bankruptcy.
·
Accounts will not be assigned to a collection agency during the
Assistance process.
·
Appeal process that's communicated to all patients who apply for
assistance.
·
If a person's situation changes, they can reapply for assistance.