WASHINGTON, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being released by Rev. Michael D. Place, STD, president and chief executive officer, Catholic Health Association of the United States:
The Catholic health ministry has a long-standing commitment to ensure that every patient has access to quality care, regardless of ability to pay. Every year, Catholic hospitals provide care to thousands of patients who cannot afford health care coverage. Catholic hospitals provide millions of dollars in uncompensated care annually. In addition, Catholic health care facilities contribute to the overall health and well being of their local communities through outreach services and programs that specifically address identified community needs.
As a ministry, we have made a commitment to policies and procedures that provide uninsured patients of limited means with discounted charges. This commitment is in keeping with our belief that all patients and their families deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion, not only during the provision of services but also throughout the entire billing and collection process.
Recent attention has generated an unfortunate perception that all uninsured patients have not received discounts. The fact is that, in many cases, payments have been negotiated with patients to establish reasonable billing terms. In hindsight, however, some of our practices may have caused inadvertent consequences that we regret. To remedy this situation and ensure that every patient is treated with dignity and respect, local facilities are re-examining their policies and making changes where appropriate.
The Catholic health ministry, individually and collectively, is committed to creation of a health care system that works for everyone. We are committed to advocating public policies that address the lack of coverage and access for our nation’s nearly 44 million individuals who live without insurance for their health care needs. As providers who are on the front lines of health care delivery and who are often the safety net provider for the uninsured and underinsured in our communities, Catholic facilities see first firsthand the devastating results of not having access to health care. As costs continue to rise for everyone in health care and as the number of uninsured continues to climb, most hospitals face mounting challenges in being able to survive and serve their communities. We urge Congress and the administration to turn their attention to this important issue and begin developing proactive policies that ensure every child and every adult has access to quality and affordable health care.
The St. Louis-based Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) is the national leadership organization representing the Catholic health ministry. CHA’s more than 2,000 members form the nation’s largest group of not-for-profit health care sponsors, systems, facilities, health plans, and related organizations. For more information, visit the CHA website at http://www.chausa.org/.
Catholic Health Association
CONTACT: Fred Caesar of Catholic Health Association, +1-202-296-3993
Web site: http://www.chausa.org/
