Free Care and Financial Assistance
In 2007, Griffin Hospital provided free and discounted care totaling $2,135,179. To apply for free bed funds or financial assistance, patients must meet with one of the hospital’s Financial Advisors and complete the necessary forms and documentation.
Griffin Hospital's policies and procedures for Free Bed Funds, Uninsured Patients, and Free Care Assistance are detailed below. All three policies and procedures identify funds available for patients having services provided at Griffin Hospital who do not have any type of medical insurance on the date of service. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with one of Griffin’s Financial Advisors, please call 203.732.7360 and choose Option 5.
Specific information on Griffin's Free Bed Funds, Uninsured Patients, and Free Care Assistance policies and procedures follows:
Free Bed Fund Policy and Procedure
1. Griffin Hospital has published a Free Bed Pamphlet that is located in all Patient Registration work stations. The pamphlet is available in both English and Spanish.
2. The Free Bed Pamphlet is available to all patients admitted to or registered at Griffin Hospital.
3. The pamphlet identifies the patients to whom the Griffin Hospital Free Bed Funds apply and the criteria for qualifying for the funds. Free Bed Funds available are:
- The Eno Fund - an applicant must be a worthy Protestant woman over 60 years old and reside in the town of Ansonia, Derby, or Seymour
- Pine Trust – available to indigent patients of Griffin Hospital who reside in the City of Ansonia
- DN Clark Fund – available to Shelton residents proving financial hardship
4. To apply for Free Bed Funds, the patient will meet with the hospital Financial Advisor to complete the Free Bed Fund Application.
5. All patients who are seen by the Financial Advisors are required to sign off on the Free Care/Free Bed Informational Letter (available upon request).
6. The Collection Supervisor will maintain a monthly log of the total patients presented with the Free Bed Fund letter to provide documentation of Griffin compliance with the provisions of Public Act 03-266.
7. A monthly report will be maintained for each Free Bed Fund by the Collection Supervisor. The month end report will identify the following:
- Total patients who applied for the Free Bed Fund
- Determination of the Free Bed Fund application process
- Total dollar amount applied toward each of the Free Bed Funds
- Total balance remaining in each Free Bed Fund
A quarterly update of the status of all Free Bed Funds will be provided to the Vice President, Finance.
Uninsured Patient Policy and Procedure
1. The patient is registered by the Admitting Registrar who will identify the patient as having no medical insurance (self pay).
2. The patient will be given a Financial Assistance Pamphlet that will identify all Griffin Hospital Free Care Assistance programs. The pamphlet also includes hospital contacts for patients seeking State welfare, SAGA (City welfare), or other State programs.
3. Patients who register as having no medical insurance with account balances over $3,000 will be referred to the hospital Eligibility Worker. The patient will be seen within 24 hours of admission. If the Eligibility Worker is unable to fulfill this requirement due to absence, the Financial Advisor will take the necessary steps to fulfill this requirement. All accounts under $3,000 will be referred to the hospital Financial Advisors.
4. The hospital Eligibility Worker will complete a financial screening for those patients seeking Title 19 eligibility and for the uninsured status.
5. The hospital Eligibility Worker will identify patients meeting the State/SAGA and HUSKY program criteria. For patients meeting the criteria, the application process will be completed and all paperwork forwarded to the appropriate State department for processing.
6. The patients who do not meet the criteria for the State/SAGA/HUSKY programs will be referred to the hospital Financial Advisor.
7. The Financial Advisor will begin a review to determine if the patient meets the uninsured criteria identified in Public Act 03-266. A letter will be sent to the patient requesting that patient to verify that they do not have medical insurance as identified during their hospital registration process. The letter will also request additional patient information regarding the patient’s income if necessary. The criteria the patient must meet as identified in Public Act 03-266 are as follows:
- Patient’s income, based on family size, falls under 250% of the poverty income guidelines (poverty income guideline scale available upon request).
- Hospital has made a full determination as to the status of the State/SAGA/HUSKY programs (if applicable)
- All Griffin Hospital Free Bed Funds have been reviewed and determined non-applicable for the patient in review
8. If the patient responds to the letter sent out by the Financial Advisor, this will begin the application process for the verification of the uninsured patient status. The following information will need to be finalized with the patient in order for the uninsured determination to be made:
- Proof of patient income and family size
- Hospital has made a final determination as to the status of the State/SAGA/HUSKY programs (if applicable)
- Verification of all Free Bed Funds being reviewed with the patient
9. Upon determination that a patient meets the outlined criteria, the patient will be classified as follows:
-Uninsured Status; the patients account will be taken from total gross charges and reduced to cost by applying factor supplied annually by the Office of Health Care Access
- The patient will be informed of this decision and will be sent a letter that will reflect the balance at reduction on all applicable accounts
- The patient will be advised of the balance that is due and payable
10. The Financial Advisor will contact the patient to accomplish the following:
- Attempt payment arrangement with the patient on the remaining balance
- If the patient identifies to the Financial Advisor that they cannot afford the remaining balance, an application for Free Care Assistance will be completed (see Free Care Assistance Policy and Procedure below)
11. If a patient applies for Free Care Assistance, the Financial Advisor will make a decision on Free Care eligibility based on the patient’s family size and income. Free care will be offered based on the Griffin Hospital Free Care Assistance sliding scale (sliding scale available upon request).
12. The Financial Advisor will advise the patient of the free care determination that will be applied to the patient’s remaining balance.
13. The Financial Advisor will complete all appropriate logs with the decisions and amounts.
Free Care Assistance Policy and Procedure
1. Any patient requesting financial assistance in paying their Griffin Hospital bill can apply for the Free Care Assistance Program by contacting the hospital’s Financial Advisory staff.
2. The Financial Advisor will be contact by the patient to complete the Free Care application process.
3. The Financial Advisor will obtain the following information from the patient in order to complete the Free Care Application:
- Patient W-2 form (tax statement from previous and current year)
- Three consecutive pay stubs from patient’s current employment
- Dependent information (family size)
- Any or all bank and checking account statements
4. The Financial Advisor will refer to the Griffin Hospital sliding scale. This is based on the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (sliding scale available upon request). The Financial Advisor will make a determination of free care eligibility status.
5. If the patient qualifies for Free Care Assistance, the applicable discount percentage will be applied to the patient’s account balance.
6. If a patient balance remains, the Financial Advisor will pursue one of the following with the patient:
- Require payment in full
- Set up a monthly payment arrangement
7. If the patient does not maintain the agreed upon payment schedule, the account will be forwarded to an outside collection agency at the full remaining balance.
8. If a patient does not qualify for Free Care Assistance, the Financial Advisor will attempt to:
- Obtain payment in full
- Set up a monthly payment arrangement
9. If the patient does not maintain the agreed upon payment schedule, the account will be forwarded to an outside collection agency at the full remaining balance.
10.In some cases, it is necessary to override the policy guidelines on income due to “special” circumstance requirements, i.e., social admits, maxed out days, deceased patients. An override can be obtained by the Supervisor and Director or CFO allowing for consideration of eligibility.
11.The Collection Supervisor will maintain all monthly spreadsheets that will identify all Free Bed funds, Uninsured, and Free Care Assistance allocated on a monthly basis.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment with one of Griffin’s Financial Counselors, please call 203.732.7360 and choose Option 5.