The medical billing and payment process can be complex and confusing. Our goal is to make our billing and insurance information as easy to understand as possible. Information below will explain our hospital's billing and payment policies, and the resources available to help you.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Resources to Help Pay Your Healthcare Costs
Van Wert Health understands not all patients have the ability to pay their healthcare bills. We offer financial assistance to patients with limited or no resources and inadequate medical insurance coverage. We offer financial assistance to qualifying patients. If you are having trouble paying for all or some of your healthcare services, please speak with our Patient Financial Team at 419-238-8646.
Eligibility is determined by family income patients are encouraged to apply for other financial assistance available to pay hospital charges (Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance) before being discharged. Our not-for-profit hospital provides high quality care to everyone, regardless of ability to pay.
Van Wert Health Financial Assistance Program Overview
Van Wert Health Financial Assistance Policy
Solicitud de asistencia financiera
HOPE Program
Van Wert Health's HOPE Program (Helping Others Pay Expenses) may be able to help if you do not have health insurance, if you have health insurance but high deductibles and co-pays still create a financial hardship, if you are not eligible for Medicaid, and/or if you meet the criteria for financial assistance. All decisions for assistance are based on family size and household income.
Insurance Programs
Van Wert Health has helped many patients apply for public insurance programs such as Medicaid. These programs help alleviate current medical bills and any medical costs incurred by the applicant in the future.
Self-Pay Discount
Van Wert Health provides all self-pay patients with a discount.
Payment Plans
In many cases, Van Wert Health is amenable to establishing a payment plan with patients so they can pay their bill over time.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR BILL
After your hospital visit you may receive many different medical bills from your providers and an explanation of benefits from your insurance company. It is important to review and keep these documents. The Healthcare Financial Management Association offers guidance about understanding medical financial documents.
After my visit to the Hospital, why do I receive bills from organizations other than the Hospital?
Van Wert Health uses contracted services for certain functions such as radiologists, ER physicians, pathologists, and anesthesiologists. These contracted services provide their own billing service and you will receive separate billings from them.
Pricing Information
Understanding the charges for medical services and procedures helps our patients make more informed decisions about their healthcare.
- Van Wert Health provides an online list of standard charges. We make every effort to provide accurate charges based on standard charges representing the typical lowest and highest charges.
- The amount a patient pays is based on many factors, including health insurance (government and commercial payers), benefit plans and other discounts, as well as the nature of services provide, based on each patient’s unique needs. Each patient’s financial responsibility will vary.
- If you are covered by any type of health insurance, please contact your health insurance provider to request an estimate of your financial responsibility before your service or procedure.
- If you are not covered by health insurance, you are strongly encouraged to contact our financial counselor before your service or procedure to discuss payment options and receive a price estimate.
Acknowledgement
- I understand that a single charge may not represent a complete medical service. Multiple components may be necessary for a complete service (e.g. procedure(s), supplies, and drugs).
- I understand that the List of Charges includes hospital services only and may not include professional fees.
- I understand that the List of Charges represents inpatient and outpatient hospital services that may be located on the main campus or at another location off campus from the main hospital address.
- I understand that Van Wert Health provides estimates of charges for hospital services and that I may speak with a patient financial services representative for an estimate of charges for a specific service based on my individual circumstances.
By downloading this file, I acknowledge that I have read the above information.
IRS Ruling Related to Posting of Prices
CMS Final 2019 IPPS Rule (Price Transparency Provision)
On August 2, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published its final inpatient prospective payment system, or IPPS, Rule for federal fiscal year 2019. The IPPS rule contained a price disclosure provision that went into effect on January 1, 2019.
2019 Final IPPS Rule
In its 2019 final IPPS rule, CMS acknowledged chargemaster data is “not helpful to patients for determining what they are likely to pay for a particular service or hospital stay.” However, in an effort to continue moving towards disclosure on price transparency, the final rule requires hospitals to make available a list of their current “standard charges” via the internet in a machine-readable format and to update it at least annually.
Van Wert Health List of Standard Charges
The information provided via the link below is a list of charges for each inpatient and outpatient service or item provided by Van Wert Health, also known as our chargemaster. The charges do not include any related physician fees, unless specifically identified. It is not a helpful tool for patients to comparison shop between hospitals or to estimate what healthcare services are going to cost them out of their own pocket. Van Wert Health patient charges are the same for all patients, regardless of commercial insurance, Medicare or Medicaid coverage. However, the charges do not reflect actual reimbursement from all patients or insurance companies. Van Wert Health’s actual reimbursement depends on a variety of internal and external factors which may include negotiated insurance plan rates, fixed government (federal and state) as well as various discount programs offered by Van Wert Health for self-pay patients. Other factors impacting actual reimbursement could include whether a procedure was performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis, specific provider orders, as well as any potential patient complications or comorbidities. For more information about the cost of your care, please contact our Patient Financial Services department at 419-238-6735.
OHIO PRICING DISCLOSURE
In compliance with the Ohio Revised Code, Title 37, Section 3727.42, Van Wert Health is providing a listing containing charges for Room & Board along with our other most common tests and procedures. This is not indicative of what a patient’s final out of pocket cost will be. The patient’s responsibility will vary depending on a variety of factors which may include negotiated insurance plan rates, the patients remaining unmet deductible and any self-pay or financial assistance discounts available to the patient.
Patients should consult with the Patient Financial Services Department at 419-238-6735 to determine their eligibility for discounts under the Hospital’s Financial Assistance Policy.
Price Transparency
Determining your health care costs may be confusing. Variables include the charge for the service, what your insurance approves and pays, and what amounts are applied to your deductible, copay or coinsurance. At Van Wert Health, we want to help you determine your out-of-pocket cost so you can make informed choices about your care. Patients may ask for an estimate of the amount to be charged for a nonemergency health care service provided in our facility. The law requires that an estimate be provided within 5 business days.
Please keep in mind that the amount we calculate is an estimate, and that your actual out-of-pocket cost may be more or less, depending on the care you receive and how your insurance company processes your claims. You can produce your own estimate for commonly shoppable hospital services through our self-service estimate tool. The estimate does not include the associated professional services of surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and/or pathologists.* If you are not able to find the service that you are looking for, you may always call our Patient Financial Team at 419-238-8646.
*If you would like a transparency estimate that includes the associated professional services of surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and/or pathologists, please reference the phone number above.
Machine Readable Files - Payer Specific