Sliding Fee Discount Program Policy/Procedure

Southwest offers a Sliding Fee Discount Program to all patients and bases program eligibility on a person’s ability to pay. All consumer’s seeking services are assured that they will be served regardless of ability to pay. The Federal Poverty Guidelines are used in creating and annually updating the sliding fee schedule (SFS) to determine eligibility.

Notification

Southwest will notify patients of the Sliding Fee Discount Program by:

• Access to Care staff will inform all new or re-admitted consumers at the time of the initial call of the Sliding Fee Discount Program and of the necessary documentation that they should bring with them for the first visit in order to determine program eligibility.
• Consumer Handbook is provided to all consumers at the time of service. The fee policy is included in the consumer handbook that describes the Sliding Fee Discount Program.
• Southwest places notification of the Sliding Fee Discount Program in each outpatient waiting area.
• Southwest’s website includes the availability of the Sliding Fee Discount Program in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the website.

Administration: The Sliding Fee Discount Program procedure will be administered through the Finance Director.

Alternative payment sources: All alternative payment resources must be exhausted, including all third-party payment from insurance(s), federal and state programs.

Completion of Application: The patient/responsible party will complete the intake application with the Access to Care staff at the time of the initial call. The intake application will serve as the application for the Sliding Fee Discount Program and Access to Center services. The consumer will be informed by the Access to Care staff of the discount program and the required documentation that must be presented at the time of the first appointment to finalize eligibility. Providing false information will result in all Sliding Fee Discount Program discounts being revoked and the full balance of the account(s) restored and payable immediately. If required documentation is not provided the consumer will be charged the full fee until such time as the required documentation can be obtained. Once presented the fees will be adjusted to the Sliding Fee Discount. Consumers will be informed that they must notify the Outpatient Office Manager if their income changes or if they have any change in a family situation.