Washington’s Charity Hospitals Standardize Care

Washington’s 97 nonprofit hospitals have voluntarily agreed to provide free or discounted health care to low-income patients, reports The Seattle Times.

The agreement comes as nonprofit hospitals across the nation are under increased scrutiny over the amount of charity care they provide under their tax-exempt status, the newspaper notes.

State law requires hospitals to provide care to poor patients but has no minimum requirement. Under the new standard, the hospitals will not charge patients with incomes at or below the poverty level, which is $13,200 for a couple and $20,000 for a family of four. There is a sliding scale of cost as income rises.

Some of the hospitals already exceed the standards; they will keep their current practices in place. Posters printed in nine languages will inform patients of their financial options.

“For most hospitals, our new pledge is an expansion,” said Cassie Sauer, spokeswoman for the Washington State Hospital Association.