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Google Doc Versions of Templates and Implementation Dates
HCPF was asked if non-PDF versions of the Patient Rights documents could be provided so hospitals could more easily add their information and/or move to their own letterhead, if desired. Google Doc versions of the Patient Rights in both English and Spanish, and the updated sample determination letters, have been added to a new Google Drive that hospitals can access and download copies from. This link will be added to the Hospital Discounted Care website in the coming days.
The new Patient Rights document is effective July 1, 2025. Hospitals will need to ensure the new version of the Patient Rights is available within the hospital and on the hospital's website on July 1, 2025. HCPF has heard from hospitals that updating the version of the Patient Rights within their billing statements may not be possible by July 1, and HCPF understands this challenge. Hospitals that will not be able to make the changes within their own or their third party partner's billing system by July 1 will need to send notification to the Hospital Discounted Care inbox on when the new version will be implemented and begin going out with patient billing statements. Having this date recorded will be important for auditing purposes and will also ensure that hospitals remain in compliance.
Update to Card Template within Uniform Application
HCPF has heard some confusion surrounding the addition of "Charity Care" to the Hospital Discounted Care card template contained within the Uniform Application. The updates were intended to help hospitals that are expecting to participate in the new Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Program, or who have a charity care program for their clinics that do not fall under Hospital Discounted Care. Since the new DSH Program applies to the same population of patients that qualify for Hospital Discounted Care, HCPF added the option to include a charity care program on the card as well. On the Card Template tab of the Uniform Application, hospitals may type their new DSH Program or current charity care program name into the yellow, outlined box to have the program name reflect on the card.
Per the new DSH requirements, patients who qualify for Hospital Discounted Care who receive Emergency care at the hospital would be charged on a sliding fee scale approved by HCPF, with payments that are less than the rates set under Hospital Discounted Care. Hospitals can include other service categories within their new DSH Program, but must cover Emergency services at a minimum. Any hospital service not included in the hospital's DSH Program would continue to be subject to Hospital Discounted Care. As a clarification, hospitals should NOT be qualifying patients for the new DSH Program instead of Hospital Discounted Care. Rather, the new DSH Program applies to a subset of services for patients who qualify for Hospital Discounted Care.
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