What is Hospital Discounted Care?

Hospital Discounted Care is a Colorado law. It limits how much hospitals can charge some patients. It offers lower costs and payment plans. For patients whose income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the limits to how much the hospital can charge must follow the rules of Hospital Discounted Care.
Contact Grand River Health at 970.625.6621 or [email protected] to see if you qualify.

Overview:

• You may qualify if your income is low. Your gross household income must be 250% of the federal poverty guidelines or less. The hospital will help you see if you qualify.
• If you qualify:
  • Hospitals and providers must limit your bills.
  • You can get a payment plan. The plan is based on your income.
• You may qualify even if you:
  • Are not a citizen.
  • Are an immigrant.
  • Have health insurance.

Your Rights

• You have the right to ask the hospital to:
  • See if you can get Hospital Discounted Care or other help.
  • See if you can get Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid).
  • See if you can get other programs.
  • Create a payment plan if you qualify.
• The hospital must give you information about your rights. The information must be in the language you prefer.
• To see if you qualify or ask questions, call 970-625-6555 or visit the Hospital Discounted Care webpage.

The Law About Bills from Hospitals and Providers

• You may get a bill from your hospital. You may also get bills from physicians who saw you in the hospital.
• If you qualify, any bill you get because of a hospital visit is limited. The bills cannot be more than Hospital Discounted Care allows.
  • You can look up the amounts for health care services at your hospital.
• Your bills must be split into monthly payments.
  • The amount you pay will depend on your income.
  • For more information, please go to our website.
• You do not owe any more money after:
  • You make 36 monthly payments, or
  • You pay the full discounted amount in your payment plan.

Public Health Coverage and Discounts

• If you do NOT have health insurance:
  • The hospital must see if you qualify for:
  • Public health coverage and discount programs, like Health First Colorado,
    Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), Emergency Medicaid, and hospital
    discounts.
    • These can cover all or most of your health care bills.
  • The hospital must check to see if you qualify within 45 days of when you got
    care.
  • You can refuse to let the hospital see if you qualify. If you refuse:
    • You cannot sue the hospital for not giving you discounts.
    • You cannot sue the hospital for not checking for programs that can help you.
• If you have health insurance:
  • You must ask the hospital to see if you can get help with your bills.
  • The hospital has 45 days to see if you can get help after you ask them.

Determination and Appeals

• After you complete an application, the hospital must tell you if you qualify within 21 days.
• If you disagree with their decision, you can appeal:
• You must ask the hospital in writing for your case to be checked for mistakes.
• You must file your appeal within 30 days of the date the hospital gave you their
  decision.
• For more information on how to appeal, call 970-625-6555 or [email protected] or go to our website.

Bill Collection with Hospital Discounted Care

• Before sending your bill to collections, the biller must:
  • Do what is listed above.
  • Explain all the services and fees on your bill. They must do this in the language
    you prefer.
  • Bill your insurance (if you have insurance) before making a payment plan.
  • Tell you in writing 30 days before they send you to collections.
• If your bill is sent to collections without doing all the steps listed above, you can file a complaint. You can also take legal action.

Hospital Discounted Care Complaints

• You can file a complaint if you feel any of your rights have not been met.
  • Complaints may include:
  • Poor communication from the hospital financial assistance office.
  • Bills that are not properly discounted.
  • Missing or late paperwork or applications.
  • Not getting the Patient Rights document.
  • Anything else you want to tell us.
• If you have a billing complaint or issue, call the hospital billing department at 970-625-6555 or [email protected].
• You can file a complaint with your hospital or provider. Call 970-625-6555.
• You can file a complaint with Health Care Policy and Financing. Call 303-866-2580 or email [email protected].