Health Systems Waive, Defer Payments for Furloughed Federal Workers

An increasing number of organizations are waiving or deferring payments for federal employees as the longest-ever government shutdown stretches into its fifth week.

A number of hospitals and health systems are either waiving or deferring payments for U.S. government employees in the wake of the ongoing the government shutdown.

Among the most far-reaching policies is from New Jersey-based RWJBarnabas Health, which says it will waive co-pays, deductibles, and some additional patient care balances for furloughed federal employees and their dependents at all system hospitals, ambulatory facilities, and owned physician practices.

The waiver applies to all inpatient, outpatient, emergency and ambulatory-based care provided by RWJBarnabas Health; is effective immediately; and will discontinued when the employees return to their pre-shutdown employment status.

In addition, workers can defer existing bills until their wages are reinstated. The policy is available to all federal employees and dependents who provide proof of federal employment upon receiving a bill.

There's also Westmed Medical Group in New York and Connecticut, which is allowing federal workers to defer co-pays, deductibles and/or patient balances.

"Westmed will be working with those affected by the government shutdown individually and on a case-by-case basis," Anthony Viceroy, CEO of Westmed Medical Group, tells HealthLeaders via email. "Furloughed employees can e-mail our billing department and work directly with a billing representative to identify themselves as a government employee."

Other organizations are waiving emergency and urgent care payments during the shutdown. Among them:

Norton Healthcare in Kentucky will waive copays and deductibles for furloughed federal government employees in need of urgent or emergency care at 14 locations, including for Norton eCare eVisits and video visits. Furloughed employees must present their government ID or a current federal insurance plan card when they receive care. That program began January 21.
Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut will waive copays, deductibles, or coinsurance for furloughed government employee who seeks emergency treatment one of its EDs, urgent care, or walk-in centers as long as they present their federal ID at the time of service. The waiver also includes co-payments and deductibles on physician services provided by Northeast Medical Group physicians in its emergency departments, urgent care or walk-in centers.

Furloughed workers can also request that their outstanding bills be put on hold. This will also apply to partners, spouses, and dependents of furloughed government employees and will extend for 30 days after the end of the government shutdown, the system said.
Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey will waive co-pays and deductibles for emergency visits at all network hospitals and urgent care centers for furloughed federal employees and their insured family members. That policy went into effect January 18.
Beaumont Health in Michigan will waive emergency center and urgent care center copays and deductibles for federal workers who have been furloughed or are working without pay, retroactive to midnight, Saturday, Dec. 22. This will also apply to their insured family members during the shutdown, and will remain in effect until the government reopens. Government workers and their insured family members will be flagged during the registration process at Beaumont Health facilities to ensure the fees are waived.