Index Title: General/Administrative
Policy Number: A-27
DATE: July 2021
Exhibit C (PDF) – Revised Financial Assistance Program Application
SCOPE OF COVERAGE
X St. Clair Hospital
X St. Clair Medical Services
St. Clair Hospital Foundation
X St. Clair Hospital / St. Clair Cancer Center PET/CT
X St. Clair / Washington Physician Services
St. Clair Health Corporation (SCHC) as part of its charitable mission will provide Financial Assistance defined as financial aid for medically necessary and emergent care by which SCHC entities, as indicated above, provide relief for patient financial responsibilities. SCHC provides relief through a reduction or elimination of payment to those patients who cannot afford their patient financial responsibility for billed charges, provided the patient complies with and meets the criteria of the following policy.
SCHC in keeping with its vision, mission, values, along with federal and state laws and determined by SCHC’s qualification criteria, shall provide financial assistance to assist low-income, uninsured, under-insured and indigent individuals who do not otherwise have the ability to meet their patient financial responsibility for medically necessary healthcare.
Consideration will be given to providing Financial Assistance, on a case-by-case basis, to patients who have exhausted their insurance benefits, have patient financial responsibilities and/or who exceed financial eligibility criteria for Pennsylvania Medical Assistance but face extraordinary medical costs.
Financial Assistance is not a substitute for employer-sponsored, public, or individually purchased insurance. It is intended solely for the benefit of the patient and his/ her family and does not relieve third parties of liability for payment. SCHC shall take into account all available insurance coverage, assistance or guarantor payments prior to offering Financial Assistance to a patient. However, in keeping with its commitment to assure the availability and accessibility of quality health services to the community, SCHC will provide a reasonable volume of donated services to certain persons unable to pay, who are determined to be eligible under this Policy.
This Policy is limited to charges for Eligible Services (as set forth below) to patients and covers any charges to a patient by any independent contractors of SCHC, including, but not limited to, those physicians and physician groups with exclusive and/or non-exclusive agreements with SCHC as set forth below.
Eligible Services shall mean inpatient and outpatient services, which are emergent or medically necessary and are provided directly by SCHC for the treatment of an illness or injury, other than those services listed below as “Ineligible Services.”
The following services are not covered by the Financial Assistance Program set forth in this Policy and are “Ineligible Services”: Cosmetic surgery services, Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Maintenance Program, Bariatric Surgery/weight loss surgery, Outpatient Pharmacy, non-medically necessary services (tubal reversals, dental procedures, genetic testing, cosmetic services, etc.), and any other discounted services provided under an agreement or contract.
The Patient Notification of Financial Assistance will be posted in key public areas, in physician offices, in all registration areas, in all ancillary departments and will be included on all patient statements. The Notice will contain instructions on how to apply for and obtain further information regarding the Financial Assistance Program. This information can also be found on the website: www.stclair.org under the Financial Assistance section.
All applicable Board of Directors will be provided, on an annual basis, with information on the extent of the Financial Assistance provided pursuant to the Program, as well as on the administration of the Program and such other information about the Program as each entity’s Board of Directors may from time to time request.
The Amount Generally Billed (AGB) to individuals who have insurance covering such care. The AGB for services will be based on inpatient and outpatient discounts applied to gross charges. These discount rates will be based on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Section 501(r)Final Regulations under the guidelines and methodologies for Limitation of Charges. Discount rates will be updated yearly effective July 1st based on the previous 12 month payment information. See Exhibit B for current AGB charge rates.
Financial Assistance (Formal Financial Assistance and Presumptive Financial Assistance) is granted to all balance(s) that have a patient responsibility (after Self Pay Discount or patient balances after insurance) if patients (and if applicable spouses) meet St. Clair’s Financial Assistance Policy Guidelines and Qualifying Financial Guidelines (see Exhibit C).
Patients who wish to be considered for hospital Formal Financial Assistance discounts must comply with the screening process for MA eligibility if their patient responsibility exceeds $2,500. If initial screening indicates potential eligibility, the patient must apply for MA benefits through the State of Pennsylvania and complete the application process. Patients who obtain a denial from MA or are deemed to be ineligible via the initial financial screening may also be eligible for Financial Assistance as set forth in this Policy. Patients whose account balance is equal to or less than $2,500 are not required to apply for MA and may be considered for Financial Assistance; however, these patients will be encouraged to apply for MA, if applicable.
The Program is available to all patients of SCHC, other than those set forth below who:
a. A onetime courtesy will be granted to the applicants that may be with an outside collection company and will not be considered as criteria for the application process. Those patients reapplying for Financial Assistance after their initial application process (including agency courtesy) will not be considered for the policy if accounts are sent to an outside collection agency will not be removed regardless if the patient qualifies for the Financial Assistance discounts on a go forward basis
a. Formal Financial Assistance is based on patients providing required information that meets qualifying guidelines. Formal Financial Assistance approval is for a six (6) month period from the date of approval. Notification of Formal Financial Assistance for a six (6) month period will be communicated to the qualifying patient through a written notice.
b. Presumptive Financial Assistance may be granted to patients for a single account (date of service) that is at the end of the internal collection process and where the hospital has obtained financial information to meet the hospital’s credit score threshold or estimated income falls within the policy guidelines. Notification of Presumptive Financial Assistance for a single episode of care will be communicated to the qualifying patient through a written notice included on the final statement issued to the patient. Patients will be encouraged to apply for the Formal Financial Assistance program through this notification and provided instruction to apply for future visits.
a. Patient Accounting Supervisor, or their designee (approval between $1,500 – $4,999)
b. Director of Patient Financial Services, or their designee (approval between $5,000 – $14,999)
c. Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO, or their designee (approval greater than $15,000)
Patient Statements and Final Notice will indicate on the front at the bottom of each form the availability of the Financial Assistance Program and how to get additional information. Those patients who qualify for Presumptive Financial Assistance, a Final Notice will also include a message informing the patient they have been approved for Presumptive Financial Assistance and the balance for this statement’s episode of care has been adjusted. An overview of the collections process as well as the availability of the Financial Assistance program will be provided on the back of each form in plain language.
Patients will have a 120 day notification period from the date of the first patient statement to apply for Financial Assistance prior to advancing to extraordinary collection activities (transferring to external collections). Patients that send a formal application for Financial Assistance will have up to 240 days for the application period from the date of the first patient statement to comply with all requirements and for a determination to be made prior to advancing to extraordinary collection activities.
The patient will receive a minimum of three (3) statements in thirty (30) day intervals and a Final Notice thirty (30) days from the last statement or a minimum of 120 days from the first statement during the notification period requesting payment in full or the establishment of an acceptable payment plan (based on hospital guidelines as set forth in the patient accounting Self Pay Bad Debt Collections Policy) before advancing to Extraordinary Collection Activities. Notification of the Financial Assistance program and how to apply will be provided on each statement.
Patients that advance to extraordinary collection and submit an application for Financial Assistance within the 240 day application period from the first statement date will be returned from the collection company and will not resume collections efforts until a final Financial Assistance determination is made.
Signed: (Signed Original Maintained in Administration)
James M. Collins, President and CEO
Original: March 1989; Revised: 9/04; 3/05; 8/05; 3/10
Approved St. Clair Hospital Board of Directors: 8/04; 3/05; 8/05; 3/10
Approved: St. Clair Hospital Board of Directors Finance Committee: 9/07; 3/10
Review Date: August
Sponsor: Senior Vice President and CFO
ST. CLAIR HOSPITAL PATIENT NOTICE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
St. Clair Hospital is proud of its mission to provide quality care to all in need, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
If you do not have health insurance or worry that you may not be able to pay for part or all of your care, we may be able to help.
St. Clair Hospital offers Financial Assistance to patients based on their income, assets, and financial needs. In addition, we may be able to help you get free or low-cost health insurance or work with you to arrange a manageable payment plan.
For your convenience, a St. Clair Hospital Customer Service Representative will evaluate your financial needs and a determination will be mailed to the patient. As part of the program, you may be required to apply for Medical Assistance.
Since federal and state laws require all hospitals to seek payment for care provided, we may ultimately need to turn unpaid bills over to a collections agency, which could affect your credit status. Therefore, it is important that you let us know if there may be a problem paying your bill. We want to help you.
For more information, please contact a Customer Service Representative at 412-344-3408.
Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Wednesdays and Thursdays 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
We treat your questions and any information you provide us with confidentiality and courtesy.
Current SCHC Amount Generally Billed Rates
Current Methodology for Calculating Amount Generally Billed (AGB) Charges
(AGB) charges are based on the IRS Regulation 501 ( r ) look-back methodology for inpatient and outpatient insurance reimbursement rates. The look-back period is the previous 12 months and includes payment rates for Medicare and all private medical insurance payers (managed Medicare is included as a private insurance payer). The AGB charges are based on the following:
a. Hospital Inpatient Services – The weighted average for Medicare and all commercial payment rates based on reimbursement for the Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) and the methodology in effect at the time of the patient’s discharge from the Hospital.
b. Hospital Outpatient Services – The weighted average of Medicare and all commercial payment rates based on reimbursement as a percentage of covered gross charges.
c. SCMS and Affiliates Outpatient Services – The weighted average of Medicare and all commercial payment rates based on reimbursement as a percentage of covered gross charges.