LMH Health providing temporary relief from healthcare bills through April 30  

Deb Cartwright, chief financial officer for LMH Health, announced that LMH Health will temporarily cease all point-of-service collections and all debt collections through April 30.

“As we continue through this pandemic crisis, we understand the toll and hardship that this puts on our patients and our community,” she said. “For many, it has not only led to increased medical bills but economic hardships as well.”

Cartwright explained that ceasing all point-of-service collections will be beneficial for several reasons. She said it not only takes the financial pressure off of patients to make immediate payment for services or copays, but it also eliminates the number of items touched and traded back and forth between patients and staff, helping to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community.

“At a time that may already be financially challenging for our patients, we want to ensure they get the care they need without being asked for payment upfront,” Cartwright said. “We understand the current economic hardships, and we want to make sure our patients know we are on their side.”

”Now more than ever, we want to make sure we are doing all we can for our patients to feel secure,” she said. “While the economy works to recover, collections efforts have been completely suspended.”

If patients wish to make payments on their bills for any reason, they are welcome to do so. Payments can still be made online or by mail using a statement, and the LMH Health business office will remain open.  

“Some may want to make payments because they do not personally want to get behind or they just simply want to get it paid off,” Cartwright said. “But we will not pursue them for payments, nor will there be consequences, such as fees, for the time being on ‘missed’ payments.”

Healthcare in the United States can come at a staggering cost to patients. As a community-owned, not-for-profit hospital, LMH Health serves the health care needs of the community regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. Each year, the organization provides $25 million in charitable care.

Here are two ways you can make an impact for those affected by challenges like COVID-19.

• Support LMH Health employees affected by the COVID-19 crisis by making a gift to the CARE fund.
• Support LMH Health patients unable to pay for medication, equipment and other items by making a gift to the Help & Healing Fund.

If you are interested in supporting these efforts, make a gift online at www.lmh.org/donate or call the LMH Health Foundation at 785-505-5005.