Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing

[daughtersrus]

We got a letter yesterday that says as of July 2011, they began billing insurance for all care that is provided. It appears that patients will be responsible for any co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance requirements. In the past, they only billed for services provided somewhere other than their hospital (brace shop or a partnering hospital if they couldn't provide the care or have the equipment in-house).

They do say that they will work with families regardless of their ability to pay.

I know that when we go to the Chicago hospital, there are families from MI, IN, OH...and even from other countries. I wonder if charging will discourage people from traveling and ultimately lead to the closing of the hospital/clinic.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that charities are hurting big time now and this may be their only way to keep the doors open. It still makes me sad.

 

[happygirl]

We got a letter yesterday that says as of July 2011, they began billing insurance for all care that is provided. It appears that patients will be responsible for any co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance requirements. In the past, they only billed for services provided somewhere other than their hospital (brace shop or a partnering hospital if they couldn't provide the care or have the equipment in-house).

They do say that they will work with families regardless of their ability to pay.

I know that when we go to the Chicago hospital, there are families from MI, IN, OH...and even from other countries. I wonder if charging will discourage people from traveling and ultimately lead to the closing of the hospital/clinic.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that charities are hurting big time now and this may be their only way to keep the doors open. It still makes me sad.

This is so sad, I hope this is only a short term thing for them

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

This is so sad, I hope this is only a short term thing for them

That is very sad...

They helped DS out a LOT with his legs when he was about a year old because All Children's Hospital in St. Pete would take us.

They help so many people who can't afford medical care for their children...and the kind of care they provide IS not cheap...

 

[golfgal]

From what I read several months ago, if you don't have insurance they will still provide free care and if you do have insurance and can't afford co-pays or whatever they have resources to help.

 

[SueM in MN]

From what I read several months ago, if you don't have insurance they will still provide free care and if you do have insurance and can't afford co-pays or whatever they have resources to help.

I think think that is the same model that St. Jude's uses.

If they can get payment from insurance or people who are able to pay, it frees up the donated funds for people who could not afford to pay.

I know ome one ho retired from the Minneapolis Shriners Hospital about 5 yrs ago. They were hurting for money then and had discontinued some programs at some hospitals, so they could concentrate their resources.

I don't know if the number of Shriners has decreased, but I know one of the big fund raisers in the past was the Shrine Circus. I don't think those are raising as much money anymore.

 

[happygirl]

Do many people who go to Shriners, have insurance?

 

[Rabscuttle]

Do many people who go to Shriners, have insurance?

It wouldn't surprise me if they do. People seek care at Shriners, not just because it was "free" but because they have skills that other facilities may not have. If they accept insurance they have no choice but to collect the copays and deductibles, otherwise, it is considered insurance fraud.

 

[kamik86]

Do many people who go to Shriners, have insurance?

Many do. Around my area the shriners hospital in the area is the nearest children's hospital. I live in Western MA and there is a shriners in Springfield, the next children's hospital is in Boston I believe. I know a little girl that went their for a problem with her legs when she was very small, her family had insurance it was just the nearest place that could do the procedure.

 

[happygirl]

Okay, I was sure

 

[C.Ann]

I think think that is the same model that St. Jude's uses.

If they can get payment from insurance or people who are able to pay, it frees up the donated funds for people who could not afford to pay.

I didn't know this about St. Jude's.. It's my number one top charity - I give to them every month - even if I have to go without something myself - and have been doing it for 39 years now.. (My youngest DD was very,very ill for the first two years of her life and almost ended up there.. When I learned what they do there - and how they treat sick children regardless of their financial means, I made a vow to contribute to them for the rest of my life..)

I will still continue with my contributions to St. Jude's - but I'm saddened to hear about Shriners and hope they will still be able to help those who have little or no money to cover their needs..

I get very frustrated when I hear someone on the news (or wherever) trying to say that things are getting "better" with the economy, employment rates, etc. - when places such as Shriners; food pantries; food banks; and other sources of help are just barely staying open - or in some cases, closing their doors.. This type of help has been available for years and years and when food pantries and such have to shut their doors, I don't see how anyone can say things are getting "better"..

 

[disneylove2007]

They have been billing the insurance for a while in some hospitals. I know that it is something that they did not want to do. They bill the insurance and if they don't pay then the patients visit is covered.
Even though they are hurting for money I know they still have the loving and caring doctors they have always had.
Someone asked about patients coming from other countries.. I know that they still do. I know that some of the units have teams that go to other countries for kids who can't come here, once a year.

Being a former patient of 21 years I am glad that Shriners is there. I don't know where I would be without the treatment they gave me. I also don't know where I would be without the employment they have provided my mom for the past 25 years

 

[ccgirl]

I guess I don't understand why they wouldn't have been billing an insurance company if someone had insurance??? Seems weird to have used donated funds when the insurance companies should be paying. Maybe I'm not understanding properly??

 

[disneylove2007]

I guess I don't understand why they wouldn't have been billing an insurance company if someone had insurance??? Seems weird to have used donated funds when the insurance companies should be paying. Maybe I'm not understanding properly??

I think they have always had billing just to show how much in medical expenses they are using. Now they are actually billing because it is really expensive for the equipment used.

They did not bill before because the Shriners wanted it to be free for everyone.


The donated funds were what was being used because that is what shriners was/is.

 

[DMRick]

St Judd's does bill insurance. I think it would be foolish not to:


Payment and Charges

St. Jude provides medical care to its patients at no cost to the patient or the patient’s family. If you have insurance, St. Jude will bill that insurance company or other third-party payers for medical services provided by the hospital. You are required to help St. Jude comply with the insurance company's needs. Even so, you will pay no co-pays or deductibles. ALSAC will cover all direct costs of St. Jude medical care not covered by insurance or third-party payers. ALSAC was founded for the purpose of supporting St. Jude. If you do not have insurance, you will be referred to our MedAssist office to see if we can find insurance coverage for your child. If you have questions about payment, charges, or insurance, talk with a staff mmember in Patient Registration.

 

[daughtersrus]

If they accept insurance they have no choice but to collect the copays and deductibles, otherwise, it is considered insurance fraud.

This surprises me. My DD also goes to a special needs dental program provided by the Grottoes. They bill insurance but anything that is leftover after they pay is written off.

 

[ccgirl]

It wouldn't surprise me if they do. People seek care at Shriners, not just because it was "free" but because they have skills that other facilities may not have. If they accept insurance they have no choice but to collect the copays and deductibles, otherwise, it is considered insurance fraud.

I believe the copays and deductibles come out of the donated monies.

 

[Aneille]

We got the letter yesterday in the mail.

My son when he was around 3 (don't remember exact age) burned the palm of his hand and his knee on the stove. We went to our local ER and they sent us to Shriners Burn Center in Boston.

We had insurance but had to pay nothing. I felt very strange but the staff was great and he recieved great care.

They sent us there because they were the experts. I guess a burn on the palm of your hand could be bad and limit the use of your hand if not treated properly and stretched. We were sent by our local ER and we could have been sent anywhere. We live just outside of Boston.

The place was amazing. I saw so many children with very bad disfiguring burns but they looked great. I couldn't believe the building and the care everyone was getting for free. It was truly awesome.

 

[Rabscuttle]

I believe the copays and deductibles come out of the donated monies.

That would be one way to satisfy that. Also, hospitals can write off copays and deductibles if by being charitable, if the patients demonstrate need. But to just not bother to collect, bill or attempt to get them paid is considered fraud.

 

[Becky2005]

I didn't get a letter yet but I had heard they were going to start billing insurance companies. The last I read was they were going to take care of co-pays, etc... still but that was in the newspaper but maybe even that was too much.

It's one reason I do my fundraiser for them. My daughter is a patient there and they do so much wonderful work. I had no clue how much stuff they actually DO there. It is like one big family.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

I went to a hospital like this myself when I was 2-18 in Texas for scoliosis. I was placed in multiple types of braces and then eventually had surgery once I turned 10 and then continued to see the doctors there until I turned 18 and are no longer eligible. It was a childrens hospital that you had to be referred to by your doctor and it was completely free, everything was taken care of by donations, however this particular hospital is not affiliated w/ Shriners childrens hospitals. Although my parents had insurance, they were never even asked to show an insurance card from what they told me. My parents told me they asked how much the surgery cost and all they were told is "it is well over $100,000...but its nothing you need to worry about".

I just pulled up the hospitals website and they still have the same practices. No cost of any kind to the families.