Thank you for choosing Civista Medical Center for your healthcare services. Information is provided below regarding our Community Benefits activities as well as information on our Patient Financial Services. Contact information is provided should you need any assistance.

At Civista, healthcare is not limited to in-hospital patients. We reach out to the community bringing better, healthier, and happier living to our neighbors in the county and surrounding areas. As a healthcare leader and one of Charles County's largest employers, we believe we have a responsibility to enhance the community where we work. Community benefits are those services provided by a hospital that go beyond direct patient care activities and are provided with partial or no compensation. Listed to the right is a summary of our community benefits activities for FY 2006.

PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES

Information on patient registration, patient billing and Civista Medical Center's Patient Financial Assistance Program are provided below.

Patient Registration

When you arrive at Civista Medical Center for services, you will be greeted by a member of the patient access department located: in Radiology, on the first floor past the Information Desk, and in the Emergency Department. They will assist you with the registration process.

In order to serve you most efficiently, please bring the following items with you: * Insurance Card * Picture ID * Physician Order (for outpatient services only) * Any insurance co-pay that is due

If you have questions regarding patient registration please call 301-609-4280.

Patient Billing: Once you have received medical services at Civista Medical Center, you or your insurance company will receive a bill for services provided.

We rely on our patients to provide accurate, up-to-date information on insurance coverage for billing purposes at the time of service. Incomplete or inaccurate information could cause delays in payment to the hospital and denial of payment from your insurance company. If your insurance company denies your medical claim, you will be financially responsible for the bill.

Civista Medical Center bills patients for facility charges. Please be aware that when you receive treatment at Civista, you may receive services from other professional providers like Anesthesiologists, Pathologists, Emergency Department physicians and/or Radiologists. Those providers in turn will bill you or your insurance company for their services.

If you do not have insurance, you will be registered as a self-pay patient and will be asked to pay a deposit. A bill will be sent to you shortly after services are rendered requesting payment of the balance due.

If you are unable to pay the entire amount, please contact our financial counselors at 301-609-4400. Financial counselors are available to assist you with billing questions.

To make payment on a bill in person, visit our billing office located at 8 Kent Avenue, Suite 100, La Plata, MD. This office is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 4 pm.

Patient Financial Aid Program

Hospital care is available to all patients regardless of their race, color, national origin, age, gender, or ability to pay. Patients with balances due resulting from limited or no insurance coverage may qualify for our Financial Assistance Program. This program is designed to assist patients who are financially in need of help. Civista Medical Center uses poverty guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to determine a person's eligibility. We may consider other financial assets and liabilities of the patient and family when determining the ability to pay.

The patient is responsible for providing information requested during the qualification process. Bills will continue to arrive until eligibility has been determined. Click here to download a copy of the patient financial assistance application.

For additional information on Civista's Financial Assistance Program or to receive a copy of the application, please call 301-609-4403 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.