Patient Financial Services
Financial Counselors are members of the Patient Access team who are dedicated to helping patients determine appropriate sources of reimbursement for hospital services.
Financial Counselors identify and assist patients who are unable to pay their estimated liability prior to treatments or who have large existing balances. This assistance includes:
- assessing a patient's liability
- linking patients to available funding sources such as Medicaid and Medicare
- determining whether they are eligible for charity care or financial assistance
Patients requesting payment plans or financial hardship consideration are identified as early as possible in the registration/admission process so the necessary documentation, research, and approval can be completed before services are provided.
As a general policy, patients seeking elective/non-urgent services must have an identified financial source for covering the cost of care. This policy does not apply to persons who seek services in the Emergency Department until after the patient has been medically screened for an emergency medical condition and has either
(a) been determined not to have an emergency medical condition
(b) been provided with stabilizing treatment.
In compliance with government regulations, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System will provide a medical screening examination and necessary stabilizing treatment for emergency medical conditions and labor regardless of ability to pay.
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System charity assistance policy and financial assistance policy can be found at the links below:
Charity Assistance Policy
Financial Assistance Policy
If I have other questions about my bill?
You can call Patient Financial Services at (941) 917-1540 or 800-764-2455.
|
