Care For PA

Pennsylvanians in need of a "helping hand" have long turned to their community hospital when they were sick. Today, Pennsylvania's hospitals provide much more, reaching out to provide care to all people in their communities.

For Pennsylvania's hospitals, providing care to "all people�? means just that--all of the people. The talented individuals who work and volunteer in their community hospitals spend every day meeting the physical, mental, psychological, and social health needs of the young and old and men and women, of all economic backgrounds.

One of the ways these individuals lend a helping hand is by helping patients learn about the numerous payment options available at hospitals, including assisting patients in applying for public assistance. More than 1,100 adults and children applied to Pennsylvania's programs from January 2005 through September 2005 with assistance from hospital employees and volunteers.

Even with this helping hand, Pennsylvania's hospitals still provided a half billion dollars in charity care for the nearly 1.5 million people left in the state without insurance.

That is nearly 1.5 million people who often delay seeking medical care until they are very sick. That is nearly 1.5 million people who lacked regular access to necessary medicines. That's a half billion dollars that was not invested in care for other patients, to do research for disease prevention, to provide immunization clinics, or to provide cancer screenings.

Pennsylvania's hospitals are continuing in their missions to provide care to all, regardless of their ability to pay. They are working with state and federal leaders to identify solutions to the growing problem of the uninsured. As we work to address this serious issue, Pennsylvanians can be assured that concern over payment for care should never prevent them from seeking health care when they need it. Pennsylvania hospitals' doors are always open--24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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