Available Discount Programs
- Uninsured Discount
- 20% discount off billed charges - offered to all uninsured patients who do not qualify for other financial assistance programs; this discount shall be reviewed annually and remain in compliance with TCA 68-11-262. - not considered charity care
- Prompt Pay Discount
- 40% Discount - Paid date of service or within 4 business days
- 30% Discount - Paid within 5 - 15 business days
- 25% Discount - Paid with 16 - 30 business days
- Charity Discount
- 25% discount off billed charges - based on poverty guidelines - See Appendix A
- 40% discount off billed charges - based on poverty guidelines - See Appendix A
- 60% discount off billed charges - based on poverty guidelines - See Appendix A
- 80% discount off billed charges - based on poverty guidelines - See Appendix A
- Nashville Indigent Discount - 100% Coverage - based on poverty guidelines - See Appendix A
- Catastrophic Discount - Catastrophic expenses can be considered for discounting on a case by case basis and will be reviewed by the Patient Advocacy Team for determination.
Application Process
A financial assistance application will be provided to interested individuals who express a need for financial assistance to pay for the services they are seeking or services that have been provided within the past 90 days. This application must be completed, accompanied by the required documentation and a signed attestation of the accuracy of the information provided, for an eligibility determination to be made. Falsification of these application documents will result in denial of benefits through the hospital's financial assistance program and notification to any outside law enforcement agencies as appropriate. Applications and fact sheets can be distributed by Patient Access at the point of registration or the Patient Accounting Department. All applications provided will be tracked by the Financial Counselor to assure documents are received and a final determination is made within 30 days. Formal Notification of approval or denial will be provided to the patient with information on their right of appeal. Health Services Charity Program Certification Cards will be issued to individuals who qualify for the financial assistance program. These cards are not insurance cards and do not automatically qualify a patient to receive services. The card should be presented by the patient at the time of registration as a way to identify themselves as a charity program participant. This card in no way obligates NGH to be liable for services provided to a patient at another healthcare organization. Applicants can be approved up to 180 days. At the end of the certification period, participants must request an extension and provide up to date financial information. A new application is not required. If at anytime the income /assets information changes, the applicant is obligated to provide updated information and be re-qualified for program participation.Eligibility Determinations
The following requirements will be used in determining eligibility for participation in the Health Services Charity Program. Documentation will be kept on file to support the approval or denial for 7 years past the date of service. NGH recognizes the need for flexibility in this process and will attempt in every case to assist the patient. If all required documentation can not be provided, The Director of Patient Accounts and/or a Patient Advocacy team can accept alternative supporting documents and exercise sound judgment in an effort to make an eligibility determination. The Patient Advocacy team at NGH will be made up of The Director of Patient Financial Services, Manager of Patient Access, The Director of Social Services and Case Management, The Compliance Officer and the Chief Revenue Cycle Officer and will meet on an as needed basis. This group will also serve as a line of appeal for denied applications if the patient disagrees with the initial determination.| Eligibility Requirements | Documentation Requirements |
| Legal citizen or legal immigrant of the United States of America | Proof of Identity - 2 primary or 1 primary and 1 secondary are required - See Appendix B |
| Davidson County Resident* | Davidson County Resident* |
| Meet income/assets guidelines utilizing the Health and Human Services federal poverty level ** (See appendix A - updated annually from the Federal Register) | Proof of Household Income and Assets - All earnings for the family unit in the household for most recent three months - original documents required - See Appendix B |
| Ineligible for TennCare; has not been removed from TennCare rolls due to non payment of premiums | TennCare screen performed by Financial Counselor; -verification on TennCare site that patient was not dropped from roles due to non-payment |
| Has no access/opportunity to participate in a health insurance program or participation in such program would cause undue financial hardship as determined by the Patient Advocacy Team. | Verified with employer and spouse |
| Has received services at Nashville General Hospital within the last 90 days or has a need to receive services. | Verified by STAR |
Public Notification
Notification to patients regarding the availability of our charity care programs and the process to apply will be posted at all points of registration, in the patient handbook, on billing statements and on the hospital website. Policies are available for review upon request.Refusal of Services
Inability to pay in full for elective services at the time of registration may result in rescheduling of such services until the certification can occur or the financial obligation can be met. Uninsured non Davidson County residents can not be scheduled to receive elective services at Nashville General Hospital and should be referred back to their county of residence to obtain healthcare services.Appeals
A letter of denial will be provided to all individuals who make application and are not approved for participation in the financial assistance programs. Patients may appeal the decision to the Patient Advocacy Team by written request addressed to the Director of Patient Financial Services within 30 days of the denial for program participation.- Appendix A 2009 HHS Poverty Guidelines
- Appendix B Proof of Identity/Proof of Citizenship-legal immigration
- Appendix C Eligible Healthcare Services
Eligibility Determination
- Patient Financial Counselors are available within the hospital to determine eligibility in the Health Services Certification Discounting and Charity Program. Self referrals or referrals from other hospital departments and community agencies are appropriate. In an effort to decrease wait times, clients can contact a Financial Counselor to schedule an appointment
- TennCare Eligibility Representatives are also available at the hospital to determine eligibility for Medicaid programs and/or TennCare.
If you have questions regarding our programs or would like to schedule an appointment with a Financial Counselor, please contact one of the following:
- Vianney Wanderstrand (Spanish/English): 615-341-4131
- Rochelle Russell (English): 615-341-4307
If you have questions regarding your account, please contact our Customer Service Representative
- Nicole Deboard: 615-341-4607