Next year, Cleveland Clinic facilities in Northeast Ohio will stop providing uncompensated care for those who can't pay for treatments, aren't eligible for government assistance and live more than 150 miles away from Cleveland, according to a Plain Dealer report.
The changes will go into effect Jan. 1. The changes apply to people earning between 250 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Those earning less are eligible for aid and those earning more are expected to pay for services.
A family of four earning $88,200 a year is at 400 percent of the federal poverty level, according to the report.
The Clinic will treat uninsured patients who are unable to pay for care and live more than 150 miles away only after a referral from the patient's physician. Also, before performing procedures, providers at the Clinic plan to ask insured patients how they will pay for the services not covered by insurance.
The percentage of uncompensated care offered at Clinic facilities has risen from 43 percent to 50 percent in recent years, according to a Clinic spokesperson cited in the report.
Read the Plain Dealer report on Cleveland Clinic's new policy for uncompensated care.
Read more about uncompensated care at hospitals:
-Hospitals Across Country Report Increase in Uncompensated Care
-Four Major Challenges in the Hospital Revenue Cycle
-Costs for Uncompensated Care Averaging $2.3M at Safety-Net Health Systems: 6 Statistics
The changes will go into effect Jan. 1. The changes apply to people earning between 250 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level. Those earning less are eligible for aid and those earning more are expected to pay for services.
A family of four earning $88,200 a year is at 400 percent of the federal poverty level, according to the report.
The Clinic will treat uninsured patients who are unable to pay for care and live more than 150 miles away only after a referral from the patient's physician. Also, before performing procedures, providers at the Clinic plan to ask insured patients how they will pay for the services not covered by insurance.
The percentage of uncompensated care offered at Clinic facilities has risen from 43 percent to 50 percent in recent years, according to a Clinic spokesperson cited in the report.
Read the Plain Dealer report on Cleveland Clinic's new policy for uncompensated care.
Read more about uncompensated care at hospitals:
-Hospitals Across Country Report Increase in Uncompensated Care
-Four Major Challenges in the Hospital Revenue Cycle
-Costs for Uncompensated Care Averaging $2.3M at Safety-Net Health Systems: 6 Statistics