CHI ST. JOSEPH PARENT COMPANY SUSPENDS BILLING PATIENTS TESTED, TREATED FOR COVID-19
The parent company of CHI St. Joseph Health has announced it will suspend billing patients in regards to the testing and treatment of COVID-19.
CommonSpirit Health said it will work with payers and federal, state and local officials to determine the cost-sharing associated with providing care related to COVID-19.
CommonSpirit Health CEO Lloyd Dean said while it is not yet known how COVID-19 will spread in the coming days and weeks, its care sites will remain available in their communities.
Dean said the last thing patients should worry about if they experience symptoms characteristic of the virus is the cost of care. He said the most important thing for people who are experiencing symptoms is to contact their health care provider and seek medical care if directed to do so.
CommonSpirit Health said its health professionals will remain vigilant in identifying, isolating, and treating all people who come to the system’s facilities throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
Well, that’s nice of them. But what about the people who get cancer or some other life-changing or deadly disease? Those types of illnesses end up costing the patient and the family way more money than this two week long virus. This is an affront to people with other serious illnesses.