Summit Health and CarePayment Offer Hospital Patients Affordable Financing Option

0.00% APR payment plans, price transparency and cost estimation tools deliver community benefit

CHAMBERSBURG, PA and PORTLAND, OR (February 23, 2015) – Summit Health, a non-profit healthcare system in south central Pennsylvania, is partnering with CarePayment®, the nation’s leading patient financial engagement company, to offer an innovative patient payment program to patients of Chambersburg Hospital and Waynesboro Hospital. The flexible payment option, available March 1, 2015, allows Summit Health patients to pay their balances in manageable monthly installments at 0.00% APR for the life of the account. There are no hidden fees or applications and no impact on credit reports.

“Patients are becoming healthcare consumers,” says Kimberly Rzomp, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Summit Health. “They’re asking about pricing and payment plans because higher insurance deductibles and co-pays are driving up their share of medical costs. CarePayment’s program helps us deliver an important benefit to our neighbors. We’re making it easier for patients to get care and pay for it.”

According to Rzomp, Summit Health also has financial counselors at both Chambersburg Hospital and Waynesboro Hospital that are trained as Certified Application Counselors (CACs) to help patients as part of the Affordable Care Act apply for health coverage on the federal insurance exchange.  Financial counselors also help with determining appropriate government assistance programs and applications.

Rising health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs are pushing people into tough decisions that could have serious health consequences. A recent Commonwealth Fund report found that four in 10 working-age adults delayed or avoided needed care due to high deductible health plans.

“The CarePayment program means patients don’t have to make such difficult choices,” notes Rzomp. “Managing their expenses over time gives patients peace of mind. They can add other approved hospital costs to the CarePayment account, which is a flexible, open-end line of credit. The financing program also offers great flexibility in how patients manage their accounts, including automatic payments, mobile and online account access, and paper or electronic statements.”

“With CarePayment, Summit Health removes a troubling barrier to care,” says Craig Hodges, CEO of CarePayment. “Summit’s investments in pricing transparency and quality, supported by our affordable financing program for patients, speaks to Summit Health’s commitment to caring for its community, patient satisfaction and added value.”

For more information, please call Chambersburg Hospital Patient Accounting at (717) 267-7129 or Waynesboro Hospital Patient Accounting at (717) 765-3406 to find out more about this affordable financing option.