Patient Financial Services
The purpose of North Valley Hospital's financial policy is to offer assistance and information to you in dealing with your hospital bills.
We recognize medical expenses are often large, unplanned and create further stress at a time when your primary concern is health rather than financial issues. It is our goal to help alleviate this issue.
You, as a patient, a guardian, or parent's of a patient, have a right to a full explanation of charges for hospital services. You also have a responsibility for assuring payment for services received.
Using the On-Line Payment feature, you can make a credit card payment (VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) at your convenience towards a patient bill 24 hours a day through a secure web link. The "Submit an On-Line Payment" link can also be found on the left side of all main webpages. Payments are posted to the credit card and patient account within 2-3 business days. If you have multiple accounts, it will be posted to the oldest account first. Written confirmation will be mailed after the payment has been processed.
It is our goal at North Valley Hospital to serve our customers with the highest quality care within the skills and resources available. Our number one priority is to exceed your expectations. As we strive to create the best possible care and services to you our valued guests we ask for your thoughts on how to improve the services we provide.
Please feel free to contact us with your comments for improvement. If you do not find our staff friendly and helpful, please inform us of this as well. This is your community hospital. We value your comments.
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Inquiries of Payments Made for Tax Purposes:
North Valley Hospital encourages you to keep your receipts as proof of payment made for tax purposes. Should you need to obtain proof of payments made we cannot guarantee that you will receive this information in a timely fashion nor honor your request and you may be charged a processing fee.
Outpatient Services Disclaimer:
The Hospital permits many different types of practitioners to order diagnostic services in the outpatient facilities of the Hospital. These practitioners are not employees of the Hospital; some may not be members of the Hospital's Medical Staff. The Hospital sends the results of tests performed in the outpatient facilities of the Hospital to the ordering practitioner. The Hospital is not responsible for the types of test or services ordered or for prescribing follow-up care and treatment. The ordering practitioner is responsible for any follow-up care and treatment you may need based on the tests performed. If you want another practitioner participating in your care to receive results of tests performed at the Hospital, you must make arrangements for transfer of that information with the ordering practitioner.
Payment Options
North Valley Hospital has several payment options available, in order for us to help you meet your financial obligations. We recognize that medical expenses are normally unplanned and often more than one can pay in 30 days.
We have retained the services of CSI Financial to manage and arrange for financing of the self pay portion of your accounts. CSI is not a collection agency but a receivable financing and management company. To qualified patients, the program offers a minimum payment of 4% of the outstanding balance each month and an annual interest rate of 15% with a minimum payment of $20.00 for account balances of $500.00. No application is necessary and future accounts can be combined with your current account. In addition, if you have outstanding accounts at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, those can be combined as well.
Those who qualify for the CSI program will receive a letter from North Valley Hospital explaining the options available. The letter may arrive as quickly as 7 days after your visit or once your insurance has responded. If you don't qualify for the CSI program and are interested in our extended payment plan, you will be required to complete a financial statement along with a promissory note and disclosure statement. On balances of $500 and more we will carry your account for 10 months interest free. If payment is thirty days past due, failure to establish a mutually agreeable plan will result in a "Final or 10 day Notice." If satisfactory arrangements are not made within 10 days, your account will be placed for collection with a collection agency.
North Valley Hospital recognizes that multiple-monthly statements can be frustrating. Our system is designed to send out one monthly statement. In addition to your monthly statement, you will receive an itemized bill. Each time you receive services at North Valley Hospital, you will be assigned a new account number for that particular date of service. A bill is then generated and sent to you. You may receive several itemized bills based on the number of times you come into the facility. Please rest assured our computer system will then merge your accounts together to produce one monthly statement. Depending on the services you receive, however, you may receive multiple bills from other Providers. For example a pathology interpretation or a radiology report from those respective physician offices.
Insurance
North Valley Hospital will gladly file your insurance claim for you. Upon your visit to the hospital, a Guest Relations Representative will ask you a series of questions (i.e., your name, address, insurance information, social security number and your physician's name).
You will also be asked to present proof of insurance and a picture I.D. This information assists us in maintaining federal and state standards.
Some insurance companies now require pre-certification or pre-authorization prior to your visit. We will be happy to make this call for you if you notify us in advance. However, it is your responsibility, along with your physician to obtain pre-authorization. You will be responsible for charges incurred should your insurance company deny your hospital stay.
If your insurance company requires utilization review during your hospital admission, our Guest Relation Representative will forward the information to our Utilization Review Nurse, who will answer any questions your insurance company may have relating to your condition.
If you have insurance, and do not have proof of insurance with you, you will be billed for services received until insurance information can be obtained. it is your responsibility to provide us with the necessary information to bill your insurance, this includes an insurance mailing address, your policy number, group number and the name of the subscriber.
You will be expected to pay your estimated co-payment and deductible at the time of registration. You may be asked to leave a deposit, if we are unable to determine what your co-payment will be.
We allow 30-60 days for your insurance company to pay your claim or respond to us relative to the status of your claim. Our goal is to have your claim paid within 45 days, and we will make every effort to contact your insurance company and inquiry about the expected payment.
Notice of Community Funded Care
North Valley Hospital will give a reasonable amount of its services without charge to eligible persons who cannot afford to pay for care. Community funded Care is limited to inpatient services, outpatient surgeries, observation/treatment room services, home oxygen services and emergency services, but does not include elective surgeries or physicians bills.
To be eligible to receive Community funded Care, your family income must be at or below the Poverty Income Guidelines (contact us for current values), and must have exhausted all other means of assistance. In addition, your total liquid assets must be less than $1,500 plus $500 for each family member.
If you think you may be eligible for Community Funded Care, please contact the Patient Financial Service Office as soon as possible. The staff will instruct you as to the requirements that must be met prior to application.
Refunds
Due to the slow response from your insurance company you may be asked to make monthly payments until your insurance company responds. Once the insurance has responded and any overpayment occurs, we will refund you within two weeks. If refund is needed immediately, we will make every effort to honor your request.
It is the policy of the hospital to review all of your accounts, if we find any account with a balance, the refund will be applied to that account. If your payment history with this facility has been prompt, we will honor your request for the refund and process it within two weeks.
In Case of Errors or Inquiries about your Bill:
Send your inquiry in writing, within 60 days after the bill was mailed to you. Your written inquiry must include:
1. Your name and account number
2. A description of the error and why you believe it is in error; and the dollar amount of the suspected error
You remain obligated to pay the parts of your bill not in dispute, we will review your inquiry within 30 days and get back with you with the results of our findings.
Send inquiries concerning your statement to:
North Valley Hospital
Patient Financial Services
1600 Hospital Way
Whitefish, MT 59937
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