RE: Under-insured patients referredfor transplant

[Guest guest]

There are a couple of different things we have tried to set up. We now have the patients sign a financial contact. All patients go through a prescreening process. Before the evaluation appointment is given, the patients now attend an education class and meet with the financial coordinator. If a patient presents with insurance issues, we then assist the patient with trying to resolve the issue before evaluation is initiated. In some cases, Patients have presented in an ED situation in that case we have been able to work with social work and the family to resolve the issue while the patient is in house. We have been very successful with helping patients apply for Medicaid and Healthy NY, which is a state based insurance program. We also refer our patients to the NTF and Cota when necessary. Our hospital has also recently set up a Transplant Resource center which will provide patients with a one time grant to assist with costs.

From: TxFinancialCoordinators [mailto:TxFinancialCoordinators ] On Behalf Of ne WelbornSent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 9:29 AMTo: TxFinancialCoordinators Subject: Re: Under-insured patients referredfor transplant

I would be interested in hearing from any of you either here, privateemail, or phone call regarding any written or un-written guidelines that you use to determine a financial clearance. Also, as asks, what about the patients that don'treceive clearance and present to your ED's later or have never been inyour system, present to your ED or Admissionsin urgent need of eval and transplant? How are those patients screenedor once they are in your facility and find they are in need of a transplant is the financial clearance even considered?Thanks for any information!Sue Welbornne WelbornThe University of Kansas Hospital Patient Financial ServicesManager, Transplants and Special Contracts2330 ee Mission Pkwy Suite 200, Westwood KS 66205"Advanced Care for the Next Century">>> " Craycraft" <LCraycraftKUMC (DOT) Edu> 06/08/2009 4:07 PM >>>Hello all,Our center is working on development of a policy (specifically forliver transplant at this time) that addresses the issue of patientswhohave inadequate medical or Rx coverage for transplant. Does anyonehavea policy they would be willing to share, all or in part, how you workwith these patients and at what point you may decline services basedonthe financial status? This would include patients who may have beendeclined by the transplant program(for financial reasons) and thenpresent later through the ED needing urgent evaluation, with no changein financial status. We would appreciate any information you might beable to share how you deal with inadequate coverage, ie: Medicareonly, high Medicaid spend down or Commercial out of pocket expenses; including limited or no Rx coverage, etc.. Thanks as always for anyhelp!!! CraycraftTransplant Financial CoordinatorUniversity of Kansas Medical Center Fax lcraycraftkumc (DOT) edu