Statement from Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare
To accurately represent our full commitment to the
greater Memphis community, it should be noted that:
We are committed to ensuring access to quality care
and have a hospital in all four quadrants of the
greater Memphis area, unparalleled by any other
healthcare provider in our region.
Our health system includes six hospitals and more than 150
clinics, outpatient centers and physician practices.
As the second-largest private employer in Shelby County, we
recognize the responsibility we have as an organization to
contribute to the success of the diverse communities we
serve and are purposeful about creating jobs in our
community – intentionally choosing to keep services like
printing, laundry and others in-house that are typically
outsourced by the healthcare industry.
We are dedicated to strengthening the communities
we serve and improving the well-being of patients
and families, and that commitment is demonstrated
through our actions.
We provide more healthcare community benefit than any
other health system in the region – over $226 million
annually.
We employ more than 250 associates dedicated specifically
to community outreach and improving the health of all
Memphians through our more than 20 evidence-based
community programs, serving approximately 54,000
individuals and providing $25 million in community-based
services – in homes, schools, child care centers, community
centers and churches.

 We raised nearly $24 million dollars to meet community
needs through the combined efforts of our foundations.
We strongly believe in providing exceptional care to
all members of the community – regardless of ability
to pay, and work diligently to honor that commitment
for our patients:
Recognizing the unique needs of our patient populations, we
have a thoughtful process in place designed to help patients
with medical expenses.
We are committed to working with all patients who are
struggling with medical expenses. Our desire is to work with
patients early in the process to set up a payment plan that
meets their individual need.
We will provide any patient – insured or uninsured – with
assistance through a 0% interest payment plan and payment
plans can be tailored based on the patient’s need.
We are willing to set up these payment plans at any point,
up until legal proceedings begin.
Any patient who identifies as uninsured, or self-pay, receives
an automatic discount of at least 70% for the care they
receive.
It should be noted that we more frequently provide patients
a discount of greater than 70%.
In fact, we collect just 1% of total charges on self-pay
patients. Uninsured patients 125% or less of the Federal
Poverty Guideline receive free care. Uninsured patients
greater than 125% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are
eligible for a 70-99% discount on their care.

 As a non-profit organization, we take seriously our
responsibility to provide care to all of our patients, and we
take steps to provide financial relief for patients in need.
Before any patient statements are sent, all accounts are
evaluated by a financial assistance qualifying tool, which
uses various data points to measure a patient’s ability to
pay. If we find that a patient is unable to pay their bill, then
the patient’s account is written off before a statement is
ever sent. This process happens automatically and requires
no action from patients.
We have a dedicated team that reviews patient billing, and
collections on accounts greater than $5,000 are specifically
reviewed by a director-level leader.
Unlike most healthcare systems, we chose to create and own
our own agency (RAP) to ensure patients are treated with
courtesy and respect at every point of the billing process and
to create jobs in the Memphis community. If we were to
outsource these services, we would not have the same level
of patient-centered focus, and we would be sending jobs
outside our community.
We provide self-paying patients with free assistance enrolling
in government sponsored insurance programs.
We are committed to sharing information with our
patients regarding their financial assistance rights
and offer numerous opportunities for patients to
access financial assistance resources:
Uninsured patients are provided financial assistance forms
during registration, so we can immediately begin providing
assistance to patients in need.
Our standard billing letters and account statements to all
patients include information about our financial assistance

 policy and provide details about accessing assistance,
including patient rights and how to contact us.
When we contact a patient by phone or the patient calls us
for billing purposes, it is our standard practice to proactively
share information about accessing financial assistance.
Outstanding patient debts are only sent to collections and
then to court as a very last resort, and only after continued
efforts to work with the patients have been exhausted.
Court action is what begins interest on the date of judgment
and it accrues daily.
We do not add interest to the accounts of patients; however,
once a legal judgment is made, payment amounts are set by
the court and will include mandated statutory interest.
Like all health systems, we are legally and contractually
obligated through our agreements with insurers to collect
copays and deductibles.
We know some insured patients have high copays and
deductibles that place a financial burden on the patient. As a
mission-driven organization, we will work with these patients
seeking assistance.
Submitted on June 21, 2019