Let Your Patients Know

We're here to help our community's uninsured and underinsured

Why does LVHHN provide free and reduced-cost care? It’s our responsibility to care for all patients regardless of their ability to pay. In each of the last four years, we provided more than $4.8 million in free care to the community. In 2005, we provided more than $11 million in care to patients who ignored or refused to pay their medical bills. Many of them would have qualified for financial assistance but didn’t apply.

Here are answers to other questions you may have about caring for uninsured or underinsured patients.

What should I do if a patient tells me he or she can't pay for care?
If you work in an inpatient setting, tell your unit’s case manager. If you work in an outpatient setting, refer the patient to one of our six financial counselors. In either case, continue providing the care the patient needs.

Who qualifies for financial assistance?
People who have no insurance or insurance that only partially pays for care may qualify. LVHHN is the only local hospital to offer a reduced-cost program to families with a household income four times greater than federal poverty guidelines.

For example, if your patient is in a family of four and has an annual household income of $77,000, he can receive a 99 percent reduction on the cost of any care exceeding $50,000. That means the patient would be responsible to pay only $500 on a $50,000 bill.

Larger families and those with less income are eligible for larger deductions in their medical bills. For example, if the same family of four had an annual household income of $38,000, the same care would be provided free of charge.

Want more answers about how we care for uninsured patients in different situations?
Learn, for example, about how we care for uninsured patients who need emergency care or surgery, and what we’re doing to help them find an affordable insurance plan. Visit the intranet at www.lvh.com or call 610-402-CARE.

Want to connect your patient with a financial counselor? Call 610-402-CARE.

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