CRMC says no co-pay, no service [Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne]

Oct. 29--CHEYENNE -- Employees at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center will collect co-payments from insured patients at the time they are seen at the hospital.

The co-pay is a new policy approved Thursday by hospital trustees on a 5-4 vote.

Hospital officials stressed, however, that this payment at time of service policy does not apply to patients with medical emergencies.

Payment at time of service is a widely accepted and adopted practice in the health-care industry, said Kerry Warburton, CRMC's chief financial officer.

Insurance information would be obtained when a patient schedules his or her visit, the policy said. A co-pay, co-insurance or deposit would be expected from patients when they check in for appointments.

If a patient has insurance and pays a co-pay, money would be collected at the time of service.

A patient without insurance who could not afford that

would be processed through the charity care system or referred to an alternative provider, the policy said.

"We wouldn't turn any patient away if there is an emergency situation" or if they are in the process of getting care, Warburton said.

The amount of co-payment for patients with insurance would vary.

However, a new patient without insurance would pay a minimum of $180 at the time he or she is seen. A patient without insurance would pay $120 for follow-up visits.

A patient who could not pay for the required amount of the medical visit would be rescheduled. He or she would be required to pay at the next appointment in order to be seen, according to the policy.

The patient's doctor would be consulted before turning away an established patient. This would make sure that any potential medical complication would be identified.

The doctor also would have the chance to treat the patient regardless of ability to pay, the policy says.

All self-pay patients would get an automatic 20 percent discount.

The new policy is expected to reduce collection costs dramatically, Warburton said.

Last year, CRMC wrote off $23 million of net revenue in uncompensated care, he said. That includes charity care and bad debts.

Trustee President Joe Evans voted against it.

"My concern is that we don't want people not to be seen because of the policy," Evans said. He asked hospital leaders to monitor it carefully.

Everyone on the board understands the need to do a better job of collecting, he said.

"We write off $50 million to $60 million. That is huge and about 9 percent of our budget last year," he said. But he wants patients cared for, regardless of whether they can pay.

Trustee Marion Schulz also voted against the policy. She said she doesn't want people to think the hospital is more worried about money than people.

Patients are to be told ahead of time how much money would be needed when they schedule a visit. They would be given as much advance notice as possible.

___

(c)2013 Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, Wyo.)

Visit Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, Wyo.) at www.wyomingnews.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services