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Becky Bruce reporting Hospitals are getting more and more creative when it comes to getting you to pay your bill.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting on a new trend: credit checks for patients. It isn't happening in Utah yet.
"Here in Utah, we're enjoying a better economy than a lot of other states around the country; and we also have a fairly low unemployment rate," said Jill Vicory, director of members and community affairs for the Utah Hospital Association.
But Vicory says even Utah facilities have to think outside the box. She says she has heard of some hospitals partnering with banks to help either set up credit cards specifically for health care expenses or to help in financing the care through low-interest loans.
It's expensive for hospitals to go through the collections process, so some think looking at a credit report could help them figure out which patients are more likely to respond. "It's not a bad resource to utilize in trying to identify if you can or can't pay," Vicory said.
No hospitals use credit reports to deny emergency care, and Vicory points out that there are ways to get help if you are uninsured. "If you are uninsured, but you need a procedure, many hospitals are willing to work with negotiating what your ability to pay is or look at reduced rates based on if you were covered," she said. "Don't feel afraid to let them know that."
To read the Wall Street Journal article, click the related link.
E-mail: bbruce@ksl.com
