At FCH, our hospital and clinic staff frequently receive questions about billing and insurance, including the question, “Why does it take so long to receive a bill for hospital services?”

For my August update, I want to answer this common question and, with that, share a few details about how the billing process works, and some information about how we’re working to expand our team to include resources to help navigate the financial aspects of receiving health care, which are getting more complex and more challenging to navigate.

First, it’s essential to share that at FCH, your health is always our priority, and with that, we strive to make billing and insurance matters as efficient as possible for every patient. Of course, FCH depends on receiving timely reimbursements from insurance providers. At the same time, we are committed to working with them on our patients’ behalf, doing all we can to ensure that final statements from FCH reflect an accurate balance after full benefits are applied. Although we’d like the billing process to be quick and painless, much of it is out of our control.

The simple answer to the understandably common question “why so long?” is that once FCH submits the bill to the patient’s insurance provider for review, it can take from a few days to several weeks to process, depending on the complexity of the services and the initial response of the insurer. At times, claims are denied, further delaying the process, in some cases, for months.

If you have questions about why you have not received a bill for services, please be assured that there is much work happening behind the scenes on your behalf, including adding a Patient Financial Navigator to our team. Also, please reach out to our Patient Financial Services representative by calling the number provided on your bill with additional questions, and visit our website, which features dedicated pages explaining pricing transparency, details about the insurance we accept, and information on how to obtain financial assistance.

I mentioned earlier that the health care, financial, and insurance landscape is increasingly complex and uncertain. With new federal legislation that significantly cuts funding for Medicaid, Critical Access Hospitals across Washington and the U.S. that rely on this, and related funding, are bracing and preparing for impact.

While it’s not yet known the extent of how FCH will be financially impacted, we are doing everything possible to maintain financial stability and ensure continued access to high-quality care for all on the West End.

Be on the lookout for patient education materials that provide more detailed information about the billing process, news about the Patient Financial Navigator, and future updates from me on this developing topic.

NEW Developments
Speaking of developments, I’d like to share a few exciting and positive things. First, it is my privilege to announce the launch of FCH’s new Palliative Care Program. This program includes multiple team members dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families on the West End who are facing serious, chronic, or life-limiting illnesses. This program has been in development for several years, and soon, you’ll learn more about the significant ways we are working to provide palliative, transitional, and end-of-life care and expanded chronic care management services.

Lastly, as you have likely heard, we bid a fond farewell to Dr. John Osland, who has provided outstanding orthopedic surgical services at FCH for many years. Please join me in wishing him the very best in his retirement. We also welcome our new orthopedic surgeon, Lance L. Bear, MD, who will begin seeing patients and performing surgeries at FCH in November. I’m also pleased to announce the October arrival of Shelly Dueber, D.O., to our Rural Health Clinic Family. More on Dr. Bear and Dr. Dueber soon!

I’ll close my message this month by saying that we know our community does have options when it comes to where they receive their care, their lab work, imaging, surgical and other services. As your community hospital, we thank you for choosing FCH.

-Heidi Anderson, MBA BSN RN
Chief Executive Officer