Community benefits program can alleviate medical costs

JOHN DAY — Blue Mountain Hospital used 13.5% of its total operating revenue in 2024 for community benefits, according to community benefits reporting information from the Oregon Health Authority.

The John Day hospital’s community benefits encompass Medicaid shortfalls, other community programs that are done at the cost of the health care system, and a charity care program that completely covers an eligible patient’s medical costs if they lack the means to pay for themselves.

Blue Mountain Hospital Chief Financial Officer Mike Ellis said public and nonprofit hospitals are required to offer some type of charity care program in support of their nonprofit or public status.

“There are rules surrounding that (where) we have to have charity care policies,” Ellis said. “They are posted on every hospital website and they’re supposed to be easy to find.”

Blue Mountain Hospital has been mostly in line with the statewide average when evaluating the amount of its operating revenue that goes toward community benefits when compared to the rest of the state.

In 2022, 11.1% of the hospital’s revenue went toward community benefits compared to the statewide average of 12.8%. In 2023, that dropped to 10.8%, but the statewide average dropped to 10.8% as well.

Ellis said the charity care program at Blue Mountain Hospital is a need-based program, meaning those seeking to utilize its services will need to provide financial information to be eligible. Ellis said the hospital uses the national poverty scale along with evaluating the amount of income and resources an applicant has or does not have when determining eligibility.

Applying for the program can be done on Blue Mountain Hospital’s website by clicking on the “financial assistance application” option at the bottom of the homepage, under the resources option tree.

The application is two pages and asks for sources of household income going back three months, in addition to supporting documents such as pay stubs, tax returns and bank statements. Ellis said he understands the income verification process could turn people away from seeking help using charity care but stressed the information is treated with the same sensitivity as a patient’s medical records.

There are some procedures charity care will not cover.

“Charity care is only for necessary medical care,” Ellis said.

Cosmetic procedures do not fall within the scope of charity care’s service. Ellis said there are some procedures, such as cardiac care and major surgeries, that Blue Mountain Hospital simply does not offer.

Verification of need can come in as little as a week, according to Ellis.

“We can certainly speed that up if there is something pressing,” he said.

Charity care also can be applied for after care has been received.

Ellis said he’d tell someone with a need who has reservations about applying for charity care that they have nothing to worry about.

“You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, your health is very important to you, you have to take care of that.” Ellis said. “If it means filling out an application to get the healthcare you need, we’ll help you do that.”