What You Need to Know:
– CommonSpirit Health suspends all patient billing for testing and treatment for COVID-19 across 21 states.
– “The last thing our patients should worry about if they experience symptoms characteristic of this coronavirus is the cost of seeking care,” said Lloyd H. Dean, CEO of CommonSpirit Health.
CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit, Catholic health system announced it will suspend sending patient bills related to the testing and treatment of COVID-19. CommonSpirit will continue to work with payers and federal, state, and local officials to determine the cost-sharing associated with providing care related to COVID-19.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, CommonSpirit’s health professionals will remain vigilant in identifying, isolating, and treating all people who come to the system’s facilities.
Why It Matters
“The last thing our patients should worry about if they experience symptoms characteristic of this coronavirus is the cost of seeking care,” said Lloyd H. Dean, CEO of CommonSpirit Health. “While we cannot yet know how COVID-19 will spread in the days and weeks ahead, our care sites will remain available to our communities. The most important thing now is for people who experience symptoms of the coronavirus to contact their health care provider and seek medical care if directed to do so.”
CommonSpirit urges anyone who has concerns about coronavirus exposure or has mild symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath should call a medical professional immediately. If someone experiences severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or new confusion, they should seek medical care immediately and let the care team know about their respiratory symptoms.
