HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93010_0084FEE CHARGES:
A schedule of fse amounts shall be established for specified health services and updated on at )east an
annual basis. Fess maybe adjusted on insurance rates or other contracted package of services considering
costs of services.
Certain services, such as epidemiologic investigations, mandated Immunizations, Tuberculosis and
Sexually Transmitted Disease Control are excluded unless covered by Medicaid or other third parry payon.
Fees charged will be either an established (Bat) rate for certain smites or will be detemuted by applying a
sliding scale based a family size and gross annual income to the fee schedule amount. Minora requesting
confidential services will be considered a family of one.
Sliding scale foes will be charged on the basis of family income exceeding 100% of current Federal Poverty
Guidelines (or other percent guidelines required by stare or federal policy for applicable programs.)
Income eligibility will be determined prior to service provision and shall be re-evaluated anytime income
and household status changes a ss at laannually.
Patients will be required to submit verifiable documentation of income when sliding scale fees are applied.
Clients unable to provide income documentation may be rescheduled or required to pay PoII fee until their
sliding fee scale can be established. All must present their health insurance or Medicaid card at each visit
and those who receive Medicaid are exempt from income eligibility determinations.
COLLECTIONS:
Patients will be informed of any responsibilities for payment prior to smite delivery. Verification of
enrollment in Medicaid constitutes PoII payment for covered/billed services All other third parry plans may
be billed as a courtesy; however, all chargeable lees are the responsibility of rhe patient as indicated by a
(required) signed agreement.
Clerical personnel will be primarily responsible for informing of expectations to pay at the lime service is
rendered, including full payment requirements of any Bat -rate fees and confirming ability no pay prior to
deliveryof service. Additionally, any co -pay amounts must be paid at the time of service and are not
subject to the sliding eligibility scale.
Failure to pay other charges in full at the time of service constitutes a debt for reasonable collation
Arrangements may be made for extended payment when good cause is indicated. Patients will 6c informed
of their account status at each visit and other encounterAny preceived will be posted a the
oldest, outstanding account. . ayment
Patients with an active account will be billed monthly at 30-60-90 day imervals. Statements will not be
generated on inactive accounts more than 18 months past due or on balances below ss.00.
SERVICE DENIAL:
Priority in the provision of service is given to persons from low-income familia who might otherwise not
have access to such sen•icn.
No individual will be denied services due to inability to pay as determined by family size and income
eligibility scale.
Service limitations/denials may be applied when patients do not make a good -faith effort to reduce the
outstanding balance. Consideration shall be given to necessity of smites, program guidelines and any
statutorily required smites.
BAD DEBTS:
Accounts will be writer off no earlier than one year or more of er the last date of any payment on the
account. Bad debts which are determined uncollectible (i.e. death, bankruptcy) will be written oft upon
notification. At no time will a patient be notified that the account has been written off as a bad debt.
An itemized lis' of uncollectible, outstanding patient balances will be prepared at the end of the fiscal year
for the Health Director's review. Those approved by the Health Director and the Bard of Health will be
written off The accounts receivable system shall indicate the recording of the bill as uncollectible and
evidence shall be on file to document required billings.
Should a patient retum for additional services after an outstanding balance has been written off as a bad
debt, the amount will he charged back into the system and the patient is again responsible for the payment.
OTHER:
The I lealth Direst" shall establish procedures to implement these policies.
The Health Director is authorized to adjust fen on the Medicaid. Medicare and usual/customary insurance
rata and the Board of Health and Bart of County Cnmmissionen shall be informed of these adjustments
at their next mating.
Donations may be accepted from any patient regardless of income status, a long as they are ruly
voluntary. That shall be m schedule ordonatiorm, ter implied or oven coercion