FA Plain Language Summary
Patient’s Obligations and Rights regarding Hospital bills
For patients with the ability to pay, it is their obligation to pay their bill in a timely manner. If they fail to meet this obligation, they may be referred to a collection agency. If a patient believes they have been wrongly referred to a collection agency, they have the right to contact the hospital for more information at 410-641-9101. If a patient is uninsured or underinsured, financial assistance (FA) may be available.
There are certain criteria that must be met in order to qualify for FA. If a patient applies for FA, it is their responsibility to provide all required information and supporting documents to the hospital so that their eligibility can be determined. Partial or full financial assistance will be granted based on the patient’s ability to pay the billed charges. The information below summarizes Atlantic General Hospital’s Financial Assistance Policy. For more information regarding FA, please call 410-629-6025 or visit the AGH website: http://www.atlanticgeneral.org/fap
Overview
It is the policy of Atlantic General Hospital/Health System to provide medically necessary services without charge or at a reduced cost to all eligible persons, who are unable to pay, according to the Hospital’s guidelines. Atlantic General Hospital defines all emergency room care as medically necessary even though decisions by insurance companies may be in conflict with this decision.
A FA eligible individual may not be charged more than the Amounts Generally Billed (AGB) for emergency or other medically necessary care. Eligibility for financial assistance is based on several factors, including income (see Federal Poverty Level guidelines below), household size, assets and any special consideration that the patient would like to have considered.
Patients may be eligible for Medical Assistance or other public assistance. Patients can apply at their local Department of Social Services or online. Information and applications are available at the following state websites: https://health.maryland.gov (MD), https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/medast.html (DE), https://www.dmas.virginia.gov/for-applicants (VA). Maryland residents might be able to apply for assistance with MD Children’s Health Program if the assistance is for a child or a pregnant woman. Patients may also apply for Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) or Specified Low Income Medicare (SLMB) programs if they need assistance with Medicare premiums.
Physician services provided during your stay will be billed separately and are not included on your hospital billing statement.
Am I Eligible?
AGH bases Financial Assistance on the patient’s income level falling within these ranges:
- 0% to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline - 100% reduction for Medically Necessary care
- Between 201% and 225% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines - Reduced cost Medically Necessary care at 75%
- Between 226% and 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines - Reduced cost Medically Necessary care at 50%
- Between 251% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines - Reduced cost care Medically Necessary care at 25%
An application is deemed eligible for 100% Financial Assistance if a patient is enrolled in a means tested program such as:
- Reduced/free school lunches
- SNAP (food stamps)
- MEAP (energy assistance)
- WIC
There are other circumstances where Financial Assistance may automatically apply. Please contact (410) 629-6025 for more information.
How Can I Apply?
The uniform financial assistance application can be found online at www.atlanticgeneral.org/fap. This application can also be obtained at any Atlantic General Hospital Registration area (9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, MD 21811) or the Patient Accounting Office (10026 Old Ocean City Blvd, Unit 6, Berlin, Maryland 21811). This form, the FA application and FA policy are available upon request and free of charge. These forms are also available in Spanish and Large Print.
If you would like to file a complaint against Atlantic General Hospital for an alleged violation of its financial assistance policy, contact the Health Services Cost Review Commissions at hscrc.patient-complaints@maryland.gov.
Click here for a printer-friendly version of the Financial Assistance Plain Language Summary. For a printer-friendly version of the complete Financial Assistance Application Packet, please click here.