Shriners Hospital passes hat — to insurers

[The Straight Story]

Shriners Hospital passes hat — to insurers

Since 1925, Salt Lake City’s Shriners Hospital for Children has refused payment for its surgeries, prosthetics and physical therapy — even from insurance companies.

No more.

This month, it started the process of seeking reimbursement from Medicaid and commercial insurers.

It’s part of a national strategy to return the Shriners hospital system to the black, as well as attract more patients from hospitals such as Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

Despite the monumental shift, Shriners employees said Tuesday that their charitable mission remains intact: It will continue to treat patients without insurance. And it won’t charge insured patients the portion that insurance companies don’t pay.

“We’re here to provide care for children, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Kevin Martin, director of patient-care services and chief nursing officer at the Salt Lake City hospital. “ never factored into our decision-making. That never will factor into our decision-making.”

By next year, all 20 U.S.-based Shriners hospitals will seek reimbursement. Four started in June, and the Salt Lake City and Tampa, Fla., hospitals began this month. Systemwide, insurance payments are expected to cover 25 percent to 30 percent of the $700 million-plus annual budget.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50500364-76/shriners-hospital-insurance-patients.html.csp