Uncompensated Care

Scripps contributes significant resources to low- and no-cost health services to populations in need. In fiscal year 2011, Scripps devoted $268 million to providing uncompensated care. “Uncompensated health care” includes:

• Charity care: Free and discounted inpatient and outpatient care to persons who meet our organization’s financial assistance policies.
• Bad debt: Unpaid costs for care that are provided to persons who do not meet the criteria for charity care, are not covered by a third-party payer or have a co-payment obligation that is not met.
• Under-reimbursed care: Care that is reimbursed below cost by third party payers.

Financial assistance

The Scripps financial assistance policy reflects our commitment to assisting low-income, uninsured patients with discounted hospital charges, charity care, billing and collection practices. Our program is provided without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, religion or national origin. Learn more about financial assistance in our patient guide.

For more information

To learn more, view the 2012 Community Benefit Plan and Report (PDF, 10.9 MB)