Most New York City Hospitals Provide Uninsured Patients With Information On Financial Assistance

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 02 Nov 2007 - 7:00 PDT

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Most New York City hospitals are in compliance with a new state law that requires them to inform low-income, uninsured patients about financial assistance for medical treatment, according to an investigation by the New York City Council, the New York Times reports.

Under the law, which took effect in January, all New York hospitals must inform uninsured patients verbally, in writing or prominently placed signage, that they could be eligible for state financial aid from an $847 billion charity care hospital fund. Uninsured patients with incomes at or below the federal poverty level are eligible for lower health care costs, including a maximum payment of $150 for surgery and $15 for emergency department and clinic visits. Patients with higher incomes are eligible for medical care on a sliding fee scale set by each hospital.

For the survey, City Council personnel posed as patients or their relatives and made one call and one visit to 59 hospitals in the city. The investigation found that staff at 42 of the hospitals gave information about financial aid without prompting, while staff at nine hospitals did not offer the information even after being prompted. Staff at five of those nine hospitals said patients who were unable to pay would not receive medical attention. In addition, the investigation found that 63% of hospitals had posters about financial assistance in two or more locations, while 22% of hospitals had no signs posted.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn said, "We saw a significant amount of compliance, for this early in a law's existence," adding, "But the thing about a public health law is that if one person is forgotten, it creates the real possibility that that one person might not get the lifesaving information they need" (Kershaw, New York Times, 10/31).

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