Washington State hospitals standardize charity care forms and communications

WSHA member hospitals have come together to standardize and simplify charity care forms and communications. WSHA issued a press release this week to acknowledge the work that has been done.  The new standards are in response to issues raised by legislators and patient advocates that variation among hospitals in the forms and communication were a barrier to patients getting help. To create a common standard, WSHA convened hospital patient services and finance experts. They worked to develop an application form and process to meet hospitals’ needs, the legislator’s goals, and most important, the needs of patients. As a result of that work, 91 of the state’s 99 community hospitals are now using or in process of adopting the common form and communication plan. WSHA has translated the form into eight languages and hospitals are using the new forms for those who cannot understand English. (Zosia Stanley).