Financial Assistance

Southwest Health System, Inc. (SHS) is committed to providing financial assistance to persons who have healthcare needs and are uninsured, underinsured, medically indigent or otherwise unable to pay for emergent or medically necessary care based on their individual financial situation. Consistent with its mission to provide the highest quality healthcare to our community by bringing excellence and service together to promote, improve and restore health, SHS strives to ensure that the financial circumstances of people who need healthcare services does not prevent them from seeking or receiving care. All individuals who come to SHS’s Emergency Department, or an SHS property, for an examination or treatment for a medical condition will be screened to determine whether an emergency medical condition exists consistent with the SHS Description of Services Policy. Neither the initial medical screening nor life-saving treatment will be impeded by inquiries about the individual’s method of payment or insurance status.

We are here to help you with financial assistance so you can focus on your health and healing. Our dedicated financial assistance coordinators can help you navigate different programs that may be available to you and your family. We want to work with you to find the best program so bills are your last worry.

What are the different types of financial assistance?

HEALTH FIRST COLORADO (COLORADO’S MEDICAID PROGRAM)

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) has free or low-cost health care for Colorado children and adults who qualify. People who meet specific monthly income requirements can get insurance through Health First Colorado. If you qualify, you can sign up for Health First Colorado any time during the year. You can view the current Monthly Maximum Income Guidelines at Colorado.gov.

CHILD HEALTH PLAN PLUS (CHP+)

Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) is public low-cost health insurance for certain children and pregnant women. It is for people who earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), but not enough to pay for private health insurance. You can view the current Monthly Maximum Income Guidelines at Colorado.gov.

COLORADO INDIGENT CARE PROGRAM (CICP)

We know your health care is important to you, as it is to us. The Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) is ending on June 30, 2025. This does not change our Financial Assistance Program (FAP) here at Southwest Health System.

Our team is available to answer any questions you have about our program options that are available here at Southwest Health System. You can reach us at (970) 564-2131 financialassistance@swhealth.org.

Hospitals in the state of Colorado will continue to provide discounts on inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services under the Hospital Discounted Care (HDC) law.
If you qualified for CICP through a hospital, you are automatically qualified for Hospital Discounted Care (HDC).
CICP co-pay cards will no longer be provided after June 30, 2025. Southwest Health System will be providing cards for patients determined eligible for Hospital Discounted Care (HDC) and Financial Assistance Program (FAP) at our facility in addition to the determination letter that must be provided.

CICP Letter (English)

CICP Letter (Spanish)

HOSPITAL DISCOUNTED CARE (HDC)

Colorado Hospital Discounted Care (HDC) was created by House Bill (HB) 21-1198. Patients who are at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) are eligible for Hospital Discounted Care. It limits the amount that low-income patients can be billed for health care services at hospitals and emergency rooms. It also limits amounts billed from providers who work at hospitals and emergency rooms. Hospitals must give patients the chance to apply for discounted care when they have services at the hospital. If a patient qualifies, their billed amounts will be limited to the rates set by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Department). Payment plans for patients who qualify cannot be more than four 4% of the patient’s gross monthly household income for bills from the hospital. Payment plans for each provider that bills separately from the hospital cannot be more than two 2% of the patient’s gross monthly household income. Payment plans cannot be longer than 36 months of payments. Once 36 payments have been made, the bill is considered paid in full. You can view the Annual Income Ranges at Colorado.gov.

Patient’s Rights Form in English

Patient’s Rights Form in Spanish

Uniform Application (please make an appointment to complete the application with one of our financial coordinators)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FAP)

As part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), SHS has an internal Financial Assistance Policy. The Financial Assistance Program (FAP), sometimes called “charity care”, provides discounted care to people who need help paying their medical bills which may not be covered by other third-party payers or programs.

Eligibility for financial assistance under this Policy is based on income level and household size. Patients who are self-pay, or who have an outstanding bill after all insurance payments have been received, may qualify for FAP. Following are the Annual Income Ranges for FAP:

FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES*
Household Size	0%-250%
1	$37,650
2	$51,100
3	$64,550
4	$78,000
5	$91,450
6	$104,900
7	$118,350
8	$131,800
For families/households with more than 8 per add $5,380 for each additional person
*Updated with the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines. Normally posted in late January every year.

Patients who qualify for assistance are eligible for up to a 100% discount for emergency and medically necessary care. Below is the current FAP copay table:

% FPL	0%-250%
PLAN	PLAN 1
SMG Clinic Services Patient Copay	$0.00
SHS Hospital Services Patient Copay	$0.00
SHS Retail Pharmacy Copay	340B drugs = $0.00 Non-340B drugs = $5.00

A patient who qualifies for assistance under SHS’s Financial Assistance Policy will not be charged more than the amounts generally billed to patients with emergency insurance and medically necessary care.

Download the Financial Assistance Policy-Procedure

Download Financial Assistance Policy Amounts Generally Billed

Download FAP Covered and Non-Covered Providers

Download the Financial Assistance Application

Descargar la Política de Asistencia Financiera Montos Generalmente Facturados

Descargue la Política Española de Asistencia Financiera (Policy)

Descargue la Hoja de Trabajo de Ayuda Financiera Española (Application)

You can contact us with questions or to make an appointment with one of our knowledgeable financial assistance coordinators at:

Southwest Memorial Hospital

1311 N Mildred Road

Cortez, CO 81321

P: 970-564-2131