Financial Services

Caring, Compassionate Patient Financial Services

We are pleased to provide for your healthcare needs at Lincoln Hospital. At this time we understand that you may be concerned about your hospital bills, insurance coverage and how you will handle the expenses of your medical treatment.

Please know that our Patient Financial Services Department is here to help you through this process. If you have questions about insurance coverage, payment plans or Charity Care, please call our office at (509) 725-7101 ext. 124.

Our offices are located in the Admitting Office near the front lobby. We’re more than happy to meet with you.

Federal Regulations

Lincoln Hospital is a non-profit public hospital. Under Federal Law, if you have a medical emergency or are in labor you have the right to receive, within the capabilities of this hospital’s staff and facilities…

An appropriate medical screening/examination
Necessary stabilizing treatment (including treatment of an unborn child)
Appropriate transfer to another facility, if necessary

These services are available even if you cannot pay or do not have medical insurance or you are not entitled to Medicare or Medicaid.

Lincoln Hospital does participate in the Medicaid Program.

Insurance

We are happy to assist you by billing your insurance company on your behalf. At the time of your registration or admission, we will ask you to sign an “Assignment of Benefits” which will allow us to receive payment directly from your insurance company. If you do not choose to assign benefits, you will be asked for payment in full or to make other arrangements (see above Payment Policy).

Lincoln Hospital accepts most major insurance plans. To find out if your carrier is on our list of insurances, please call us at (509) 725-7101. Our service representatives are more than happy to assist you.

Credit Card Payment & Bank Financing

You may use your VISA or MasterCard to pay your accounts.

In addition, we have made arrangements with U.S. Bank for bank financing that may be available to you. Our Patient Financial Services Department can provide you with information. Just ask. We’re happy to help you through this time.

Payment Policy

Our Patient Payment Policy is divided into the following categories and is based on the balance you owe after your insurance payment.

Account Balance	Payment Terms
$0-$200	Account is due and payable within 30 days from date of billing.
$200-$1,000	Account is due and payable over a six-month period with six equal monthly payments from date of billing
$1,000-$2,500	Account is due and payable over a 12-month period with twelve equal monthly payments from date of billing.
Over $2,500	If account balance is over $2,500 and cannot be paid in full within a 12-month period, the patient/guarantor will need to seek financing from U.S. Bank or another lending institution.

Charity Care

It is Lincoln Hospital’s philosophy that no one be denied care because of inability to pay for hospital services. If you have limited or no means to pay for services, you may qualify for coverage through programs such as Medicaid. Our Patient Financial Services Department is available upon request to help you explore payment options.

Should you not qualify for state-funded programs, you may seek to have your bill reduced or eliminated by qualifying for Charity Care. If you feel you need this type of assistance, please contact our Patient Financial Services Department as soon as possible to begin the application process.

QUE Financial

Lincoln Hospital contracts with QUE Financial to manage our Self-Pay balances.

QUE Financial is NOT a collection agency, but a medical billing company that manages extended payment plans for hospitals. Should you have a balance after insurance, you will receive a monthly statement from QUE and it is important that you make your monthly payment by your due date each month.

Finance Charges

Lincoln Hospital does not add finance charges to our patient accounts.

However, if your account is referred to an outside collection agency, a fee of up to 50% of the outstanding balance can be added per RCW 19.16.500.

Helpful information for you, our patients

Verification of Benefits

Prior to any visit, you should verify your benefits with our insurance company to make sure the visit (including surgery or medical procedures) is covered.

Preauthorization

Definition of preauthorization – Approval by your insurance company to proceed with surgery or a special procedure.

What does this mean to you? Most procedures or surgeries require preauthorization from you insurance. You must verify that this is done by the physician who will perform the procedure. Obtaining preauthorization does not guarantee that your insurance company will pay the bill.

Denials

Definition of denial – When your insurance company refuses to reimburse the medical charges by your doctor.

What does this mean to you? More and more insurance companies are denying charges as a standard practice in order to delay payments. However, we can circumvent this by submitting your bill without mistakes.

You can help us prevent denials by doing the following:

1. Provide your insurance cards at each visit. We’ve found many insurance companies continually change the address on your card to which you send the bill.

2. Keep us updated if you have any address or telephone changes.

3. Speak with your insurance company and verify coverage, referral and preauthorization prior to visits and procedures.

4. Contact your insurance company or us if the insurance company wants any further paperwork or asks questions that you don’t understand.

5. Don’t just pay a medical bill because it has been initially denied by your
insurance company. Check your benefits and demand answers. Call us. We may be able to help.