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Home >> Community Benefit >> Community Benefit Programs >> Planning for the Uninsured

Planning for the Uninsured
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Meeting the healthcare needs of the underserved is an integral part of the Dignity Health Sacramento Service Area mission. The hospitals believe no one should go without healthcare and are committed to treating patients who have financial needs with the same dignity, compassion and respect that is extended to all patients. The hospitals consider each patient's ability to pay for his or her medical care and follow the Patient Financial Assistance Policy established by Dignity Health, which makes free or discounted care available to uninsured individuals with incomes up to 500% of the federal poverty level.
 
Financial assistance information is available in a number of ways and offered in several different languages.
 
We also take a proactive role in responding to the needs of the uninsured, vulnerable and at-risk patients through special programs:
  • Enrollment Assistance  |  Following medical treatment, the hospitals provide assistance to help uninsured patients enroll in government sponsored health insurance programs. In 2010, over 15,000 uninsured patients received this free assistance, and an estimated 3,000 patients were successfully enrolled. Hospital-sponsored expenses for this assistance were over
    $2 million.
  • Mental Health Consultations  |  In response to a priority need, the hospitals provide psychiatric consultations to uninsured patients who admit to the emergency departments because there are limited mental health services elsewhere in the community due to steep government budget cuts and closures of facilities. Over 2,000 patients received mental health evaluations in 2010. Hospital-sponsored community benefit to provide this service approached $1 million.
  • Transportation  |  Taxi transportation is available for patients who do not have, or cannot afford, their own transportation home upon discharge from the hospital. Over 7,000 patients received this service in 2010. Hospital-sponsored community benefit to provide this service was over $174,000.
  • Prescription Medications  |  The hospitals provide free prescription medications to uninsured and underinsured patients who cannot afford to purchase their own. Hospital-sponsored community benefit in 2010 was over $69,000.
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