Hospitals rated poorly in helping uninsured patients
There are millions available in charity care
Oct. 2, 2003

ALEXIS GRANT
O-D Albany bureau

ALBANY -- Hospitals don't make it easy for uninsured New Yorkers to access the $847 million a year taxpayers contribute to charity care, a consumer advocates' group said Wednesday.

In a survey of 70 hospitals around the state, Citizen Action of New York found that it was "almost impossible for consumers" to access information about payment programs for uninsured patients, such as income eligibility, application and billing procedures.

"Since these hospitals get so much money from the (state charity care pool)... it seems to us that hospitals should have charity care that they make available to people," said Richard Kirsch of Citizen Action.

The group is urging lawmakers to pass a law that would make hospitals include information about income guidelines for free health care on patient bills and halt billing once a patient applies for charity care.

Health care representatives argue that policies are in place to allow uninsured patients to access free care; the patient just needs to call the hospital and ask about them. They called the study flawed.

Citizen Action members visited or called 70 hospitals, all of which receive state aid for charity care, and asked for information about payment options for uninsured patients. They found that at most hospitals, it was "incredibly tough" to find basic information about charity programs, such as whether or not the hospital had such a program, what fees it covers and how billing is handled.

The group rated hospitals based on those questions, as well as whether a translator is supplied as is required under federal law. Of the 70 hospitals surveyed, 49 gave satisfactory responses to only one or none of five questions, thus "failing" the survey. Ten hospitals passed two categories and 11 hospitals passed three categories.

The surveyors made it clear that they were conducting a consumer advocacy survey, which hospital representatives said flawed its conclusions. Had it been an uninsured patient who called and asked for the same information, the patient likely would have gotten it, said a spokeswoman for a hospital lobby group.

"My hunch is that (charity programs) are communicated better to patients than to surveyors," said Jeannie Cross of the Health Care Association. "But the policies are there."

Cross acknowledged that some changes would make it easier for people who qualify for free health care to get it.

"We're working with the hospitals of New York to try to develop some guidelines that would standardize the procedure somewhat," Cross said. "There's no reason for it to be a secret."

But she dismissed the notion that legislation is necessary.