Title
Approval of Hardship Fee Reduction for Medical Dental and Behavioral Health Services - Cooper
Body
Per HRSA requirements, the Governing Council must adopt, evaluate, and approve updates to key policies including the Sliding Fee Discount Program and Billing and Collections at least every three years, or as needed.
During our recent Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Operational Site Visit, a finding was noted during our exit interview regarding our Hardship Fee Reduction Policy. The policy lacked clearly defined criteria for evaluating financial hardship requests.
In response, we updated the policy to include examples of extraordinary expense that may warrant a fee reduction beyond the standard sliding fee scale eligibility. These updates clarify the application process and ensure compliance with HRSA expectations. The red-line version of the revised policy is included for your review and approval.
Suggested Motion
To approve the Hardship Fee Reduction for Medical Dental and Behavioral Health Services as presented.