Legal, policy, and practical perspectives on hospital discounting and collection policies for uninsured and underinsured patients: a primer for board members and managers

This article addresses many of the issues hospital boards and management must consider with regard to discounting and collection policies for uninsured and underinsured patients. Viewing these issues from the perspective of the overall charitable mission of the hospital will allow a hospital to respond more to community need than fear of lawsuits or adverse publicity. The legal and reimbursement consequences of any course of action must, however, be assessed by hospitals and their advisors.