ADVOCATE NORTH SIDE HEALTH NETWORK

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (CHARITY CARE) AND TRAUMA CARE. PROVIDING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDLESS OF THE PATIENTS' ABILITY TO PAY. AS PART OF ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC MEDICAL CENTER'S (ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC) COMMUNITY HEALTH STRATEGY, THE MEDICAL CENTER IS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE PROVISION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC OFFERS A VERY GENEROUS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, REQUIRING NO PAYMENTS FROM THE PATIENTS MOST IN NEED, AND PROVIDING DISCOUNTS TO UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS. PATIENTS EARNING UP TO SIX TIMES THE FPL, AND INSURED PATIENTS EARNING UP TO TWO AND HALF TIMES THE FPL, MAY QUALIFY FOR A FULL OR PARTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT. ADDITIONALLY, A CATASTROPHIC ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED AND INSURED PATIENTS WHOSE INCOMES EXCEED THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE INCOME GUIDELINES AND HAVE OUTSTANDING PATIENT BALANCES OF $25,000 OR MORE FOR A SINGLE DATE OF SERVICE OR SUM OF SEVERAL DATES OF SERVICE. THESE PATIENTS MAY QUALIFY TO RECEIVE A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE DISCOUNT THAT REDUCES THEIR OUTSTANDING BALANCE TO 25% OF THEIR NET INCOME. FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, ADVOCATE WILL PRESUMPTIVELY PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IF THE FINANCIAL STATUS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY A THIRD PARTY. IN THESE CASES, THE PATIENT IS NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A SEPARATE CHARITY APPLICATION. IF PRESUMPTIVE CRITERIA ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY IS AVAILABLE USING AN INCOME-BASED SCREENING. ADVOCATE EXTENDS ITS INCOME-BASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY TO ITS INSURED PATIENTS AS WELL. ADVOCATE CONTINUES TO REVIEW AND REFINE ITS POLICY IN AN ONGOING EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP.THE MEDICAL CENTER MAINTAINS HIGHLY VISIBLE SIGNAGE AND BROCHURES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TO INFORM PATIENTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF FINANCIAL HELP AND FINANCIAL COUNSELORS. INFORMATION ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND AN APPLICATION IS PROVIDED TO ALL UNINSURED PATIENTS DURING REGISTRATION AND IS MAILED TO THEM IN ADVANCE OF THE FIRST PATIENT BILLING. AFTER THAT, EACH UNINSURED PATIENT'S BILL INCLUDES SUMMARY INFORMATION REGARDING THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. IN 2023, ADVOCATE ILLINOS MASONIC PROVIDED $1,140,407 IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT CHARITY CARE ASSISTANCE. ADVOCATE ILLINOIS MASONIC IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING EXPERT EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA CARE. THE MEDICAL CENTER'S LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER, ONE OF ONLY FOUR IN CHICAGO, CARES FOR THE MOST SERIOUSLY INJURED PEOPLE WITHIN ITS SERVICE AREA. EMERGENCY AND TRAUMA SERVICES ARE PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF THE ABILITY TO PAY. IN 2023, THE MEDICAL CENTER EXPERIENCED 44,006 EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, OF WHICH 739 WERE LEVEL I TRAUMA PATIENTS.

HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS EMPLOYED BY THE ORGANIZATION. HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY PHYSICIANS EMPLOYED BY THE MEDICAL CENTER ARE FOCUSED ON IMPACTING THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. THE DIGESTIVE HEALTH TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ACTIVELY TO INCREASE COLON CANCER SCREENINGS. EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN TRAINING LOCAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS (EMTS) AS WELL AS PROVIDING TRAINING IN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR), BLEEDING CONTROL AND APPROPRIATE BIKE HELMET USAGE. A RANGE OF PHYSICIANS AND ASSOCIATES PROVIDE HEALTH EDUCATION, LECTURES AND SCREENINGS AT COMMUNITY HEALTH EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.