Northwest Billing and Financial Considerations
Hospital
Hospitals bill separately from some physicians, so you should expect to
receive one bill from the hospital, which includes charges such as your
room, medications, equipment and other items used for medical care.
If you have questions concerning your hospital bill, please contact our Customer Service department at 800-788-6995.
Physicians
Some physicians and specialists will bill separately for services provided. If
you have certain tests or treatments, you may receive bills from
physicians you did not see in person. These bills are for professional
services rendered by physicians in diagnosing or interpreting test
results while you were a patient.
If you have questions regarding physician bills, please call 800-788-6995. For questions regarding anesthesia billing, contact NAPA at 800- 546-0731.
Charges
You have the right to request and receive information regarding the
charges for any treatment, and to receive an explanation of your bill
upon request. Hospital charges are set by the Health Services Cost
Review Commission and cannot be negotiated or reduced.
You can inquire and obtain information about hospital charges by calling our Customer Service department at 800-788-6995.
Billing Your Insurance
As a courtesy, the hospital will submit bills to your insurance company
for which you identify coverage. Insurance usually covers most charges
except for television, private room differential, deductibles and co-
insurance. Arrangements to pay any unpaid charges should be made at the
time of discharge or by calling our Customer Service department at 800-788-6995.
A number of payment options are available – you may pay by personal
check, money order, or complete the reverse side of your statement and
pay by credit card. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American
Express. For added convenience, call Customer Service and pay by phone
using your credit card. Interest-free installment payment plans are also
available.
Contact Northwest Hospital Customer Service
Our representatives are available to assist you Monday through Friday
between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 410-601-1094 or 800-788-6995; or visit in person between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
Mail your payment to:
Northwest Hospital
Financial Services
Northwest Hospital offers several programs to assist patients who are
experiencing difficulty in paying their hospital bills. Our Patient
Financial Services department is available to assist patients who do
not carry medical insurance (uninsured) or face significant co-pay
and/or deductible charges (under-insured), which may be challenging to
manage due to personal hardship or financial distress.
Depending on the specific financial situation, a patient may be eligible
to receive Maryland Medical Assistance (Medicaid), Financial Assistance
or take advantage of extended payment plans.
Maryland Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
For information, call the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)
Recipient Relations Hotline at 800-492-5231 or your local Department
of Social Services at 800-332-6347 or go to www.dhr.state.md.us.
Northwest Hospital patient representatives can also assist you with the Maryland Medical Assistance application process.
Financial Assistance
Based on your circumstances and program criteria, you may qualify for
full or partial assistance from Northwest Hospital. To qualify, you must
show proof of income at 300 percent or less of the federal poverty
guidelines; a sliding scale is used to determine eligibility for those
whose income exceeds 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Eligibility is calculated based on the number of people living in the
household.
The program covers uninsured, under-insured and patient liability after
your insurance(s) pay. Approvals are granted for a 12-month
period of time. Patients are encouraged to re-apply for continued
eligibility.
Extended Payment Plans
In the event that you do not qualify for Maryland Medicaid or Financial
Assistance, you may be eligible for an extended payment plan for your
outstanding hospital bill(s).
Patient’s Rights and Obligations
As a patient, you will receive a uniform summary statement within 30
days of discharge. It is your responsibility to provide correct
insurance information to the hospital. You have the right to receive an
itemized statement and explanation of charges and to receive full
information and necessary counseling on the availability of known
financial resources for the care as requested. If you believe you have
wrongly been referred to a collection agency, you have the right to
contact the hospital to request assistance.
You are obligated to pay the hospital in a timely manner. You must also
take an active part in cooperating during the Medical Assistance and/or
Financial Assistance application process. Additionally, you are
responsible for contacting the hospital if you are unable to pay your
outstanding balance(s). Northwest Hospital offers flexible interest-free
payment arrangements. Failure to pay or make satisfactory payment
arrangements may result in your account being referred to a collection
agency.
Physician and Other Charges
Physician and certain non-hospital charges are not included in the
hospital bill and are billed separately. Contact Northwest Hospital Customer
Service. Our representatives are available to assist you Monday
through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 800-788-6995.
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