Hill-Burton Act is a federal program that provides free or low cost healthcare
The Hill-Burton Act is a federal government program that was created in 1946. It requires various health care facilities, including hospitals and other locations that have been granted federal funds for facility construction or modernization, to provide patients with free or low cost health care services. The Hill-Burton Act still offers benefits to low-income and uninsured people in the form of free or discounted medical care at participating facilities.
At its core, the law was meant to address two issues which were the shortage of hospitals following World War II and Hill Burton was aimed at addressing the inequitable access to health care among low-income, uninsured and marginalized populations. This in effect means that if a medical provider receives any type of federal aid, they are required to help patients that have a low income or are underinsured.
Who can get medical from the Hill-Burton program today?
Low-income households and anyone that lacks insurance can get help. There are some criteria that need to be met in order to be eligible for financial help from a Hill-Burton Act affiliated hospital or clinic. They include the following.
- A individual must not be covered by any type of existing health insurance, whether that is a private third-party insurer or a government assistance program such as Medicare or Medicaid. The patient must be unable to pay the full cost of your medical care.
- Applicants for free care from Hill-Burton income must fall below certain thresholds, generally based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If your household income is greater than but not more than double the amount of the Poverty Income Level, then your health care services may be provided at a reduced charge, maybe free, or possibly full charge.
- It is not necessary that applicants to the Hill-Burton Act be U.S. Citizens. Instead, patients who apply need only have been living in the U.S. for a minimum period often including several months.
- Each hospital that is part of Hill-Burton Act may have its own specific sliding scale and application process, but all participating facilities are required to publish information about how to apply and what qualifies. There are also other ways to get hospital bill help from a provider.
Keep in mind that Hill-Burton hospitals and facilities must provide a specific amount of free medical care each and every year, but that the facility can stop offering these services once they have given that amount that is required under the law. So this means that some applicants will be turned away.
The hospital bill program and medical assistance provided to patients from the Hill-Burton Act is managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hundreds of health care facilities and hospitals across the nation still provide provide free or reduced-cost care from the program.
Application process at Hill-Burton medical providers
You can’t just walk in an get your bill waived. Health care at a Hill-Burton hospital or facility is not automatically free or reduced-cost. You need to ask for it. Each hospital does need to publish the fact though it is an option. As noted above, people will need to apply at the billing department, admissions office, charity center or business development office at the facility.
They will review your situation and determine whether you can get free or reduced-cost care. There is flexibility when you need to apply by. You may apply for the program either before or after you receive medical care, and even better, you can even apply after a medical bill has been sent to a debt collection agency. Find other ways to get help with medical debt.
Some hospitals have their own versions and regulations of this program. So the terms and conditions can vary by provider. Some Hill-Burton hospitals may use different eligibility standards and procedures to determine who can get help. The medical facilities may require that you provide documentation that verifies your eligibility for the funds, such as proof of income and residency.
Type of bills that are covered by the Hill-Burton act
Not all medical bills and health care services are paid for. Only the facility costs are paid for and not your private doctors' bills. This amount can vary by location. Also Hill-Burton only applies to medically necessary services, which can include, but are not limited too,
- Emergency care
- Inpatient hospital stays
- Outpatient surgical services
- Prenatal care
- Lab tests
- Medications administered during hospitalization
- Preventive services in some cases
Also, the Hill-Burton hospital locations need to provide a specific amount of free or reduced cost health care each year to people, however they can stop the program once they have given that amount. So this can also limit how much is reimbursed to the patient.
When you do go ahead and apply for Hill-Burton medical care, the obligated facility or hospital needs to provide you with a written statement or documents that tells you what free or reduced-cost care services are available. They will also need to notify the family on what they will get or why they have been denied for the program. Get it in writing.
List of Hill-Burton Act hospitals and medical centers
Find a participating hospital or facility at https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/facilities. Currently there are hundreds of facilities and hospitals across the nation participate, and tens of thousands of people each year receive help.
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