POLICY: Richford Health Center, Inc., is committed to fulfilling the mission of service to the community. In keeping with this mission, Richford Health Center, Inc., has initiated a program intended to enhance the health status of the communities it serves and to meet particular needs of uninsured individuals.

It is our guideline at Richford Health Center, Inc., to review self-pay accounts and record these accounts meeting a certain criteria, i.e. medical necessity, exhausting all other resources prior to granting a charity allowance. The purpose of this guideline is to distinguish between patients who refuse to honor their debts and uncollectible expenses and those indigent patients who do not have the financial means to pay. Further the identification of and accounting for charity allowances can be used to management to show the increasing cost of care for indigent patients.

The ability to pay will be judged by applying 200% of the Federal Poverty Income guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Patients who fall within the guidelines will be assigned the appropriate level of adjustment. Adjustments may be applied to all bills, including co-payments and deductibles.

All rural health clinic visits will have a minimum $5.00 (five-dollar) charge assigned per visit unless financial hardship would keep the patient from obtaining appropriate primary care.

PROCEDURE: Sliding fee scale information and applications will be furnished upon request. Applications and proof of income must be returned within 10 days of application date. All applications will be considered for a 30-day retroactive time frame and retroactive decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The patient and/or guardian will be notified of their eligibility

For more information, call 848-3829