Patient Financial Services

We work with all major insurers. Patients with Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, or other hospitalization insurance are expected to assign benefits to the hospital. This process authorizes your insurance company to send payments directly to us. If benefits are not assigned, you will be asked to make a full payment at the time of service.

Patients who have medical insurance, whether treated on an inpatient or outpatient basis, must provide proof of insurance for each visit. Patients whose insurance can't be verified will be asked to make payment in full or make other payment arrangements at the time of service.

Some insurance policies require a deductible or co-payment for each visit. When known, we will require you to pay that amount. If a patient provides complete information at registration, we will also file with a secondary insurance provider. In most instances, a new account is set up for each visit. This allows your insurance to track any deductible and co-payments due. Itemized bills are sent to the patient/guarantor only upon request.

More than one type of charge will likely result from a visit. It is possible that the specialized skills of other professionals will be required for your care. In these cases, you will receive separate billings for these services.

You may receive a separate bill from the following departments: Anesthesiology, Diagnostic Imaging, and Operating Room. You may also receive a separate bill for a personal physician visit. If you have a cardiac or pulmonary test completed, you may be billed by the physicians who interpret your test results even if you do not meet them in person.

When you receive a bill for services from these departments, the cost includes facility charges, equipment, support personnel, and other costs. If you have any questions regarding this billing statement, please call the number on the bill for specific information.

The Satanta District Hospital Laboratory performs tests on specimens ordered by providers. You may receive a bill for these services ordered by your personal provider without having been to the hospital.

Most insurance companies, including Medicare, will not pay for routine physical checkups. If you have a screening test, such as blood sugar testing, pregnancy testing, TB testing, or other types of screenings, your insurance may not pay. Questions concerning your coverage should be directed to your insurance carrier.

Although we file your insurance claims, there is no guarantee your own insurance company will accept responsibility for the payment. Due to differences in insurance benefits available, acceptance or rejection of claims by insurance companies varies. Payment for our services is the responsibility of the patient. Payment is due 30 days after your insurance has been filed.

If you do not have insurance coverage, you must pay a deposit against the estimated total cost. The estimated cost is based on the expected type of care. There will be a minimum deposit required based on services received. The deposit is due at the time of service, and the balance of charges becomes due within 30 days of discharge from Satanta District Hospital. If you receive elective inpatient or outpatient services, payment arrangements must be made prior to scheduling service.

Per federal regulation, treatment will not be refused in any medical emergency. However, just as treatment is the hospital’s obligation to the patient, likewise the patient has an obligation to see that the hospital is promptly paid.

Many health insurance companies now require pre-admission certification, pre-authorization, or a second medical opinion before providing benefits.

The patient has the responsibility of assuring requirements are met prior to admission. Satanta District Hospital cannot assume responsibility if you fail to follow your insurance company’s requirements. Failure to satisfy an insurance company’s requirement places full responsibility for payment of charges on the patient.

In addition, nurses and physicians employed by the insurance companies routinely review the medical need for all hospitalizations. Insurance companies will not pay for hospital stays they determine are not medically necessary and, subsequently, the patient becomes responsible for such charges.

While we don't typically finance any hospital accounts, we are aware that occasionally circumstances require individual consideration. For information concerning financial assistance programs, the patient or members of the patient’s immediate family should contact a financial counselor at the hospital prior to or during the patient’s stay.

We also give a portion of our services without charge to eligible persons who cannot afford to pay for care. To be eligible to receive uncompensated care, certain income requirements must be met. Proof of your household income will be required to help determine eligibility.

We accept MasterCard, Visa, as well as debit cards, cash, checks, and money orders. Payroll deductions are available for Satanta District Hospital employees.

Payments may be made to the hospital cashier located in the main lobby by the emergency entrance or by phone during our regular business hours.