POINT OF SERVICE PAYMENT
Most people want to know the cost of their medical services, but don’t know how to access the information. Knowing the cost of the service upfront helps you to make informed decisions about your health and care. In recent years, hospitals have introduced programs to provide easier payment methods for patients. One program is called Point-of-Service Payment, and it consists of patients paying their portion of the bill at the time of service.
New financial support system for patients
BRMH has a payment process that helps patients know and understand the cost of their medical care before receiving services in non-emergent situations. As part of its financial transparency to the community, we offer cost estimates for co-pay, co-insurance, and deductibles so patients can make informed decisions about their health care.
I have never been asked to pay at the time of service before?
Today, most service organizations require payment at the time of service, including hospitals. This is done primarily for three reasons:
- providing patients’ information about their expected portion of the bill before the service occurs allows them to make informed decisions
- a significant portion of a hospital’s revenue is from insured patients’ co-payments, deductibles, and non-covered procedures, as well as payments from patients without insurance
- by collecting payments at the Point-of-Service, hospital operating costs, are kept down, since collecting after patients leave the facility can be both costly and time-consuming. These savings are then reinvested to help operate the hospital and pay for new medical technology– all of which benefit our patients and community.
How can I pay my portion of the bill?
For your convenience, we take cash, checks, and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and Discover). Our Registration Clerks can help you complete this process.
How does the hospital determine my payment?
For certain scheduled services, the hospital will verify insurance coverage and let the patient know what their portion of the bill will be. Many insurance plans list the co-pays for various services, such as Emergency Room and Urgent Care visit co-pays, on the insurance card. The main difference between Point-of-Service and other payment programs is that we ask for your portion of the bill while you are at the hospital rather than billing you later – which means no surprises for the patient and family.
What if I am in a financially difficult situation?
We understand that sometimes paying deductibles or co-pays can be difficult due to life situations. If you need help with payment options, you will be referred to one of our Patient Financial Advocates who can help identify possible financial assistance programs. The Advocate can also help develop a payment plan. This helps relieve the stress of worrying about bills at a time when you need to focus on getting well. See our Financial Assistance page for more information.
What if I come to the hospital in an emergency?
The first priority of any Emergency Room nurse or provider is to care for patients and do everything possible to help them during an emergency situation. With that in mind, after a medical screening examination has been performed and the patient is determined not to have an emergency medical condition, the Registration Clerk may ask for payment.
What do I need to bring with me to the hospital now?
To assist the hospital in determining the proper amount due at the point-of-service, patients should bring:
- insurance cards,
- Social Security number,
- photo ID (such as a driver’s license)
- method of payment (cash, checkbook, credit card)
- completed Financial Assistance Application if you obtained one before your appointment.
The registration clerk will use this information to confirm with your insurance provider what your co-payment and deductibles are for the services you are receiving.