PROGRAMS

 CAMC has two programs to assist patients in need of financial assistance:

Charity – No payment will be expected from patients who meet the criteria for charity assistance.  The main requirements for charity assistance are as follows:

• Income at 200% or less of the West Virginia Department of Welfare income and resource guidelines, and,
• Insufficient assets to pay for the care (assets of $50,000 or less are excluded), and,
• Not eligible for any public programs (such as, Medicaid, Medicare, etc.)

  Uninsured Discount – Any patient without third-party coverage will be given a 20% discount from charges.  (The 20% discount is greater than any discount given to a non-governmental HMO or insurance company.) 


POLICY

CAMC patients in need of financial assistance are required to provide accurate and complete information to the Hospital and, when possible, to enroll in a publicly sponsored insurance program. Uninsured patients who do not provide income verification will automatically qualify for a 20% discount from charges. 

The Hospital will communicate this policy to the public by the following means:

• The Hospital will conspicuously post in all registration areas of the Hospital the telephone number that patients may call to obtain further information on the Hospital's uninsured/charity care policy;
• The Hospital's patient handbook will include information on the Hospital's uninsured/charity care policy;
• The Hospital's computerized billing statements will include information on the uninsured/charity care policy including contact information, telephone numbers and an Email address for any patient requesting assistance.

Income Guidelines:  

For additional family units over 10 add $637.

Assets included in the $50,000 exclusion:

• Real property
• Automobile
• Recreation vehicles
• Bank accounts
• Rental property
• Other investments

Applicants with personal assets exceeding $50,000 in value and/or exceeding the Income Guidelines will be reviewed on an individual basis.  Cases involving catastrophic medical claims/medications (proof required) will be considered for charity assistance only after consideration of income, assets and uninsured status.

Cases in which a patient exceeds both the established income and asset guidelines will not be eligible for consideration except in special circumstances determined by collection supervisor/management.  Applicants who do not qualify under the guidelines will be notified.

Click here for a copy of a Patient Financial Statement application.  Please complete all fields on the application.  If a field does not pertain to the applicant, mark N/A.

In order to process the Patient Financial Statement quickly and efficiently, please provide last month copies of the following as they pertain to applicant: paycheck stubs, Social Security check, Unemployment or Worker's Compensation check, child support verification, retirement or pension check, and/or bank statement.

If the applicant has no income and/or food and shelter is provided by someone other than the applicant, click here for a copy of a Proof of No Income form.  The form must be signed by the applicant and notarized.

Please return completed application and all pertinent information to:

Fax to (304)-388-3596

          or

Mailing to the following address:

Charleston Area Medical Center
501 Morris Street
Charleston WV 25301