PURPOSE:  It is the policy of Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital to assess and provide Charity Care assistance to those patients deemed appropriate based on their individual ability to pay.

POLICIES:  Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital will give uncompensated care as a community service to those who require medical care, but are unable to pay.  This community service will be available to all persons residing in the service area without discrimination based upon race, color, national origin, creed or other grounds unrelated to the individuals need for the service of this facility.

PROCEDURE:

1. Uncompensated care may be given in full or partial based upon the applicant?s ability to pay in relation to federal poverty level guidelines.  Criteria for uncompensated care will be based upon a scale of 100% to 200% of the annual federal poverty levels.  This scale is established to meet the needs of those applicants whose income is not low enough but qualify based upon individual or unusual circumstances, such as excessive medical bills, long term illness, Medicaid spend-downs, inadequate health care coverage, Medicaid deductibles or their incomes is so low that payment of the medical bill would seriously hinder their ability to pay for their basic necessities of life.
2. Every applicant will be assessed individually and the information in the application will remain valid for a period of six months, unless there is a significant change in the applicant?s status.
3. This policy will be updated yearly to reflect current poverty levels.  These levels are published annually ( Feb.) in the Federal Register.
4. Any person requiring medical care may request a determination of eligibility for uncompensated care prior to the service, after the service is provided or ever after the collection actions has begun( unless the account is moved to bad debt status, at which time the account will not be considered for uncompensated care) : however the hospital reserves the right to require proof of need.  This requirement will be proof of income or assets, as well as denials from public aid applications prior to a decision for uncompensated care.  In addition, the hospital may require child care or child support payments, pay check stubs, unemployment checks, IRS returns or any other information that is reasonable and necessary to substantiate the applicant?s income.
5. The hospital will give free care to Medicaid patients that we do not have a current contract with.
6. The hospital will give free care to expired patients without an estate.
7. The hospital will NOT consider applications for free care on elective procedures, such as cosmetic procedures that ultimately will not result in the loss of life or limb if not performed.

   2008 FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES

   FAMILY SIZE - INCOME GUIDELINES

   1. $10,400.00
   2. $14,000.00
   3. $17,600.00
   4. $21,200.00
   5. $24,800.00
   6. $28,400.00
   7. $32,000.00
   8. $35,600.00

   ADD $3,600.00 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER OVER 8

8. Uncompensated care will be giving based on this eligibility scale.
   1. 100%-150% of poverty level for family size = 100% uncompensated care
   2. 151-175% of poverty level for family size = 75% uncompensated care
   3. 176-200% of poverty level for family size = 60% uncompensated care
9. If an applicant does not received 100% of uncompensated care, they will be required to set up payment arrangements on the remaining balance, should they not be able to pay in full.
10. Any employee that has prior payroll deductions arranged, can not apply for uncompensated care on that balance.  Uncompensated care can only be determined on current accounts for employees.
11. For those patients that are currently enrolled in a commercial insurance plan or any governmental sponsored plan, their application will be processed based on 100% of the poverty level income guidelines.