If you’re a low- or moderate-income patient in Colorado, the Hospital Discounted Care (HDC) law is designed to help you avoid overwhelming medical bills. Enacted in 2022, this law requires hospitals to provide financial assistance to qualifying patients. However, a recent report by the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) reveals that many hospitals are not following these rules, leaving patients without crucial support. Read the full report here.
Here’s what you need to know about your rights under the HDC law and how hospitals are falling short.
Your Rights Under the HDC Law
As a patient in Colorado, you have the right to:
- Discounted Care Based on Income: If your household income is below 250% of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for financial assistance to reduce your medical bills.
- Transparency About Financial Assistance: Hospitals must provide clear information about HDC and other financial assistance programs in English and Spanish.
- Access to Patient’s Rights Forms: Hospitals are required to post these forms on their websites, making them easy to find.
- Assistance Regardless of Language: Spanish-speaking patients must have equal access to information and support.
- Accurate Communication: Hospital staff must be trained to inform you about HDC, both in person and over the phone.
How Hospitals Are Falling Short
CCHI’s recent review found significant issues in hospital compliance with the HDC law:
- Incomplete Website Information: While all hospitals mentioned HDC and posted the required Patient’s Rights forms, only 58% fully met the legal requirements for their websites. Many failed to make it clear how HDC works or distinguish it from other assistance programs.
- Language Barriers: Although Patient’s Rights forms were available in Spanish, only 47% of websites could be fully translated. Spanish-speaking patients are often left without adequate support.
- Poor Phone Communication: Out of 178 calls to hospitals, only 11% provided correct and helpful information about HDC. Spanish-speaking callers faced even greater challenges, with only 4.5% receiving accurate guidance compared to 18% of English-speaking callers.
These shortcomings leave many patients unaware of their rights, potentially leading to unnecessary medical debt.
What You Can Do
If you’re struggling with medical bills, here are steps you can take to ensure you receive the care and discounts you’re entitled to:
- Check Your Income Eligibility: If your household income is below 250% of the federal poverty level, you likely qualify for HDC assistance.
- Ask Questions: Contact your hospital and specifically ask about the HDC program. If the information provided is unclear, ask for a Patient’s Rights form.
- Request Language Support: If Spanish is your primary language, hospitals must provide you with information and forms in Spanish.
- Seek Help: If you’re not getting the support you need, advocacy groups like Dollar For can help guide you through the process.
How Dollar For Can Help
Dollar For specializes in helping patients erase medical debt through charity care programs like HDC. If you’ve been denied the financial assistance you deserve or need help navigating the system, visit dollarfor.org for free resources and support.
Understanding your rights is the first step to protecting yourself from medical debt. The Hospital Discounted Care law is here to help you, and advocacy organizations like CCHI and Dollar For are fighting to ensure hospitals comply with the law. Together, we can ensure healthcare is accessible and fair for everyone in Colorado.