BRATTLEBORO
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Hospital Free Care and Discount Policy Information
FREE CARE PROGRAM:
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s Free Care
program is designed to assist those patients who
are either uninsured, underinsured or have limited
financial resources that impact their ability
to fully pay for their hospital care. When making
application for Free Care, patients are first
asked to investigate whether or not they may be
eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans’
Benefits or other governmental or public assistance
programs. Free Care should always be the payor
of last resort.
A. Qualifications for Free Care:
- Free Care is limited to medically necessary
services. Patients receiving certain elective
services, such as those considered cosmetic,
investigational or experimental, are expected
to make payment arrangements in advance, as
these types of services are not covered by
Free Care;
- Patients’ family income must be at
or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty
Income Guidelines for their family size;
- Patients or their guarantors must complete
a Free Care application and provide the hospital
with verification of income. Responsible parties
may be asked to disclose the identity and
amounts of any assets that could be used to
pay for medical expenses.
(CLICK
here for printable application)
- Free Care applications will be processed
within two weeks of the date of their receipt
in our Business Office;
- Free Care applies only to those patient
accounts still in active Accounts Receivable;
no Free Care allowance may be applied against
accounts that have been forwarded to a collection
agency as Bad Debt.
B. Patients will be notified in writing of
their approval or denial status within 30 days
of the date of receipt of the application and
any required supporting documentation.
CARDIAC AND PULMONARY REHABILITATION
PROGRAMS:
For patients who attend the cardiac and/or pulmonary
rehabilitation programs at our facility, but who
have no insurance coverage for these services,
and who would experience financial hardship in
paying for these programs, there is a scholarship/grant
available to lessen their financial burden. Eligible
patients’ family incomes must be at or below
300% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines
for their family size. The scholarship applications
will be processed, and patients will be notified
in writing of their decision status, using the
same timelines as that for Free Care.
EXTENDED PAYMENT OPTIONS:
Payment plans/extended payment options may be
granted to patients based on need. Patients will
be required to complete a payment plan application
and provide proof of income and assets.
SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 15,
January 24, 2007, pp. 3147–3148
DISCOUNTS TO SELF-PAY PATIENTS WHO DO
NOT QUALIFY FOR FREE CARE:
The hospital recognizes the fact that not all
patients will qualify for Free Care, generally
due to income levels that exceed the current Free
Care guidelines. When a patient who does not qualify
for Free Care and who has no insurance requests
a discount on his/her bill, the hospital will
extend a 3% prompt-payment discount as long as
the patient pays the bill in full within 30 days
of receipt. The 3% discount will be applied when
the patient’s payment is received by the
Business Office.
CLICK
here for Charity Application (PDF)
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