BISBEE — In an effort to help uninsured patients, Copper Queen Community Hospital has created one of the most generous financial assistance standards in the state, allowing all patients access to health care, a hospital administrator said.

“We are concerned that the proposed health care reforms are not going to improve primary care systems in medically underserved areas,” said Jim Dickson the hospital’s chief executive officer. “So we’re expanding services for our uninsured and underinsured patients.”

The hospital’s expanded policy includes a 50 percent fee discount for patients without insurance. Any remaining fees owed after the discount will go through a sliding fee schedule — in accordance with federal standards — providing up to a 70 percent discount for the remaining balance. In addition to the hospital, the sliding fee schedule will apply to all three rural health clinics affiliated with the hospital, located in Bisbee, Palominas and Douglas.

“About three years ago the hospital committed to a 50 percent discount to all patients without insurance,” Dickson said. “But now the 50 percent remaining on that patient’s hospital bill can be discounted according to income and the size of the person’s family.”

 While the discount falls under a complicated formula, it’s capable of bringing the hospital bill down to a very low level for the patient, Dickson explained.

Based on the foundation that “lack of finances should not preclude anyone’s access to medical care to maintain and support a basic standard of health,” the hospital’s board of directors, along with its leadership team, have endorsed the newly implemented Community Responsibility Policy.

“We recognize that health care costs can create serious financial hardships, capable of forcing families into bankruptcy,” Dickson said. “The No. 1 cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. is attributed to health care bills. Under this program, we pledge that we will not push anyone into bankruptcy for health care they received at our hospital.”

 If the hospital’s bills cause a patient to file bankruptcy, that patient will be absorbed under the Community Responsiblity Policy.

 When people become terminally ill and are disabled because of that illness, there is a two year waiting requirement for Medicare, Dickson said. “Yet, Medicare is supposed to cover the disabled. These patients need expensive health care to treat their illnesses which they have to pay for. They are forced to apply for Medicaid or AHCCCS.”

It’s not uncommon for these medical expenses to spend down a patient’s life’s savings and assets as they struggle to pay off medical bills.

Dickson questions why the government doesn’t allow people who are disabled, terminally ill, or in some kind of financial hardship to buy into the state’s health care program, AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System). The cost of providing coverage for someone under AHCCCS is $3,000 a year, the lowest cost in the United States, he said.

Dickson asserts that, as the federal government works toward health care reform, it should look at programs already in place instead of adding new layers which could make the process even more cumbersome for patients.

“Providing access to primary health care regardless of ability to pay, is our hospital’s mission,” Dickson said. The hospital serves more than 25,000 patients, many of whom are unemployed, have low family incomes, and are uninsured or underinsured.

Information about the hospital’s Community Responsibility Policy will be provided in patient handbooks, on account statements and on signs throughout the hospital and clinics. Additional information about the program can be obtained by going to the hospital Web site www.cqch.org.

Questions about the policy can be directed to the hospital’s business office, 432-6458.