The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus is updating its payment processes beginning May 15, as it moves to streamline and modernize how patients and visitors pay for services.
Five things to know:
1. Patients will be able to pay medical bills in person using credit and debit cards or digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Cash and checks will no longer be accepted at most locations, with exceptions made at a single campus location.
2. Cash and check payments for medical bills will be accepted only at the central cashiering office on the main campus.
3. In addition to in-person options, patients can continue to pay medical bills online via the health system’s website or MyChart portal, by phone or by mailing a check.
4. To accommodate patients who prefer to use cash, reverse ATMs will be available at several locations across the system. These machines allow users to deposit cash and receive a prepaid card at no cost, which can be used anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted.
5. The changes will also apply to purchases in many of the system’s pharmacies, gift shops and dining areas.
“Digital payments are more secure and a vast majority of our patients are already using digital payment,” an OSU Wexner spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker’s. “With very few using cash or checks, it’s more efficient to consolidate where those payments are handled. We have also placed several reverse ATMs, where patients can insert cash and receive a debit card, for no fee. Patients can also still mail a check or pay with cash at our central cashiering office.”
