Title
Consideration of and action on adopting a Charity Care Policy for uninsured individuals.
Body
Summary:
Currently, the City of Deer Park has a Financial Hardship Policy that was adopted on May 15, 2012. The policy can be applied to any patient, whether they have private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid or are uninsured as long as they meet the income guidelines. This policy has allowed the City to recover some revenue through the Texas Ambulance Supplemental Payment Program (ASPP).
The Texas Ambulance Supplemental Payment Program (ASPP) Charity Care Policy only covers uninsured individuals who meet the guidelines. In order for the City of Deer Park to realize the most from lost revenue for those patients that do not have the means to pay for emergency ambulance transport under the Texas Ambulance Supplemental Payment Program (ASPP) a Charity Care Policy should be adopted.
In the past four (4) years the City has been able to apply for lost revenue through Texas ASPP using the existing Financial Hardship Policy. Effective October 1, 2021, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is requiring all emergency ambulance services to adopt a Charity Care Policy for uninsured individuals only in order to be reimbursed at the highest percentage rate of revenue recovery.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
None
Recommended action
Staff recommends adopting a Charity Care Policy for uninsured individuals that use the emergency ambulance service provided by the City of Deer Park