Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), hospitals have been required to maintain financial assistance policies to serve low-income individuals and families facing health crises in order to maintain their nonprofit status. However, under the ACA, neither federal or state law specified how much charity care hospitals must provide.
In Oregon, that all changed recently with the signing of HB 3076—a new financial assistance law that establishes a standard minimum policy for nonprofit hospitals.
How the new Charity Care law updates the Affordable Care Act
This new law provides security for patients and families who are financially struggling but may not qualify for Medicaid.
The law extends hospital financial assistance policies to the clinic setting, providing for needed care at the right time and place.
Patients with household income up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or roughly $100,000 annually for a family of four, may qualify for financial assistance.
Oregon is the first in the nation to implement mandated charity care thresholds for hospitals
Standardizing affordable health care in Oregon
Hospitals already provide a significant amount of charity care in Oregon (Roughly $196 million collectively in 2018), but these changes ensure a uniform standard and continued health care accessibility for patients and families going forward.
New charity care thresholds
Below are the new requirements on the incoming financial assistance policy.
