Uninsured patients will be asked to pay something in advance before getting care at Mayo Clinic Health System's Franciscan Healthcare offices starting next month.
The move follows an industry trend to get patients to meet their financial responsibilities and reduce bad debt. Last year the organization says it served nearly 8,800 uninsured patients but recovered just 7 percent of the $6.6 million in charges billed.
It's a policy the industry also says will help connect uninsured patients with financial aid sources and avoid the stress of debt collection during recovery.
"This is about trying to make sure we engage our patients in a conversation around the financial obligations of medical care," said Tom Tiggelaar, chief financial officer for Mayo's Franciscan group. "By simply making this request - speak to a financial counselor - it opens that door for that discussion."
Patients at clinics in La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, Sparta, Tomah, La Crescent, Caledonia, Waukon, Prairie du Chien and Arcadia will be asked to pay $100 for a hospital visit or outpatient service and $75 for a clinic visit.
No one will be denied care if they can't pay, nor will payment requests be made before emergency room visits.
"We stand by our mission of providing care to the community," Tiggelaar said.
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http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_b01359e0-df54-11e0-ad40-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1Y1bI8ZmuI NEVER thought our community hospital would start this....we've got two in our city, and I'm sure now the other one will start this also. So sad.....