The hospital will knock 20 percent off the bill if patients pay the balance in full. The hospital will reduce the total owed by up to 50 percent for older accounts with higher balances. The bill discount window is open until April 30, according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.
So far, approximately 350 people have participated. The ultimate purpose is to encourage patients to pay their bills, even if it’s significantly less than the original bill. Hospitals who offer discounts actually collect more money than those who do not, according to the report.
CRMC changed its computer billing system in 2013, and old balances did not transfer over. Approximately $85 million in collectibles remains in the old system. The hospital has slowly collected some of these balances, and now $650,000 remains to be collected or written off as uncollectible, according to the report.
The hospital’s business office calls patients to tell them about discounts but does not widely market the discounts. The hospital plans to implement wider notification in the future, according to the report.
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