Ballad Health unveiled a uniform pricing system for its physician practices that lowers charges by an average 17 percent overall, the Johnson City, Tenn.-based system said Sept. 4.
The uniform pricing system for all professional fees for Ballad Health physicians and other providers will also result in a 77 percent discount on charges for uninsured patients.
The changes, effective Sept. 1, affect all charges from Ballad's physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. It also includes providers with Ballad Health Medical Associates primary care and specialty care practices and its urgent care centers. The decrease doesn't apply to independent or contracted physicians. How much each provider will be affected by the change will vary.
The fee decrease comes after Ballad expanded its charity care threshold to patients who are 225 percent of the federal poverty level, up from 200 percent in February 2018.
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