South Central Regional Medical Center Introduces CarePayment® to Help Patients Manage Out-Of-Pocket Medical Costs

LAUREL, Miss. and Portland, Ore. (June 17, 2014)—Dedicated to providing patients with flexible payment options and helping ease concerns about increasing out-of-pocket expenses, South Central Regional Medical Center recently introduced CarePayment, an innovative payment program available to its patients regardless of insurance coverage, credit history or employment.

“We know how difficult it can be for those who face unexpected expenses for health care services. Our goal as always is to provide exceptional service to our patients, and we believe that patient financing through CarePayment does just that,” says Tom Canizaro, Chief Financial Officer for South Central Regional Medical Center.”

Without patient financing to help them manage expenses over time, consumers can struggle to get the care they need and to pay for care:

• 30% of U.S. adults say they or a family member put off medical treatment in 2013 because of the cost, according to Gallup.
• Lack of money to pay for medical bills and medications is the top financial concern for Americans, according to Consumer Reports
• The majority of people who have medical debt owe more than $2,000, says the Centers for Studying Health System Change

“With deductibles on the rise, medical expenses can present major financial challenges for patients and healthcare providers alike,” says Ann Garnier, CarePayment COO. “We are delighted to partner with South Central Regional Medical Center to help their patients get the care they need, when they need it.”

South Central Regional Medical Center chose the CarePayment program because it is so patient-friendly and affordable, says Canizaro. Its benefits to patients include:

• 0.0% APR financing for the life of the account
• Payment terms up to 25 months
• Minimum monthly payments as low as $25 or 4% of the total balance, whichever is greater
• Easy account activation, with no application or credit check required
• Ability to add additional charges for care

“We believe that our patients should have affordable access to care, regardless of creditworthiness,” Canizaro said. “Our practices and policies reflect our commitment to honoring the trust our patients have placed in us.

For more information about South Central Regional Medical Center’s CarePayment program, call 601.399.6103, or 601.399.6104.