How much do I really owe?

After your insurance company has reviewed your hospital bill and paid or denied their portion (a process that can take several weeks), Childress Regional Medical Center (CRMC) will bill you for your part of the bill. Your hospital bill will show charges less insurance payments, less discounts/adjustments to your account. Most insurance plans, including Medicare, require patients to pay part of their hospital bill. If you have questions about your insurance, please contact your insurance company.

Who will bill my insurance?

CRMC will bill your insurance company if you have given us the correct insurance information prior to admission.

What if I cannot pay?

CRMC tries to assist low income patients.  If you need help, please call the CRMC business office. Among the ways CRMC can help are:

Hospital Financial Assistance: CRMC provides indigent or charity care to patients who qualify. Financial assistance can help with hospital bills for inpatient or outpatient care. CRMC will help you find out if you qualify for financial assistance.

Insurance Programs: CRMC can help you determine eligibility for public insurance programs such as Medicaid. These programs may help you with your current bill and will help you pay for health needs in the future. CRMC also houses an on-site Texas Health and Human Services Commission Medicaid caseworker.

Payment Plans: If you need to pay your bill over time, CRMC can help you set up an appropriate payment plan.

People with health insurance often get negotiated discounts so they are not required to pay full charges. Are there special discounts for people who do not have insurance?

Yes. The Self-Pay Discount assists patients who are without insurance coverage. CRMC offers a 30% discount on all charges, inpatient or outpatient. This policy also applies for services rendered at Fox Rural Health Clinic.

Why does hospital care cost so much?

As with any business, hospitals must attempt to meet their expenses by collecting for their services. However, the hospital’s costs include many items that do not readily come to mind when we think about our care:

• 24/7 operations
• Mind boggling technology & Equipment
• Highly-trained and well-compensated doctors, surgeons, CRNA’s, nurses, lab and radiology technicians
• Significant regulatory standards (fire codes, information security standards, etc…)
• Our current healthcare system requires those that can pay for their care to subsidize a portion of the cost for those that can’t

Who do I call for help?

If you have questions about your bill, you should contact the billing office at CRMC. If you do not have the direct number for the hospital billing office, call the hospital’s main switchboard (940-937-6371) and ask for the billing office.

Why did I receive a bill from a doctor I did not see?

CRMC often consults with specialized doctors as part of caring for our patients. Often these specialists are sent items such as pathology or radiology studies for their expert review. You will receive a bill directly from those doctors for their professional fees.

Why did I receive a separate lab, doctor, or ambulance bill?

CRMC coordinates contractual relationships with healthcare providers when a patient service can’t be provided locally.  The following is a list of non-local contracted providers from whom you could receive a bill for services connected to your hospital visit or stay:

ü      Heartland Pathology    -           Pathology Reports

ü      High Plains Radiology -           Radiology Over reads

ü      ESO Solutions -                      Ambulance Services

ü      Amarillo Diagnostic Clinic -    Thallium Stress Interpretations

What if my hospitalization is the result of an accident?

If your accident or illness is work-related, the hospital will bill your employer’s workers’ compensation program. You must fill out the paperwork we need.  If you are involved in a car accident, the hospital will bill your personal medical insurance, so a car liability claim will be left to the insurance carriers to resolve.

Can I pay my bill by credit card?

Yes. Contact the business office for telephone transactions. Receipts may be mailed to you.

Can I pay my bill online?

Not at this time, but possibly in the near future.