West Ascension Parish Hospital is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care to all patients, regardless of their financial situation.
This Financial Assistance Policy Plain Language Summary explains how eligible patients may receive free or discounted care for emergency and other medically necessary hospital services provided by West Ascension Parish Hospital.
Important: This summary is intended to explain the Hospital’s Financial Assistance Policy in plain language. It does not replace the full Policy.
Free copies of the full Policy, application, provider list, and this summary are available upon request and at www.westaph.org.
Services Covered by This Policy
This Policy applies to eligible emergency and other medically necessary hospital services provided by West Ascension Parish Hospital.
Financial assistance does not apply to services that are not medically necessary, elective services not approved under the Policy, or services excluded by the full Policy.
Provider Notice: Services provided by certain contracted, independent, or non-hospital physicians or providers may not be covered under this Policy.
A list of providers covered and not covered by the Policy is available upon request and on the Hospital’s website.
Who May Qualify for Financial Assistance?
Financial assistance is based on household income, household size, insurance status, and applicable medical expenses.
Patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or unable to pay for eligible hospital services may apply.
| Category | Eligibility Criteria | Potential Assistance Available |
|---|---|---|
| Financially Indigent Patients | Uninsured or underinsured patients with household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). | 100% discount of eligible hospital charges. |
| Medically Indigent Patients | Patients whose unpaid medical bills from any provider within the past 6 months exceed 20% of annual household income. | Patient responsibility may be limited to up to 20% of annual household income for medical bills. Remaining eligible balances may be waived subject to Policy review. |
| Household Income Between 201% and 400% of FPL | Uninsured or underinsured patients with household income between 201% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. | Sliding-scale discount based on household income and household size as described in the full Policy. |
Limitation on Charges for Eligible Patients
Patients approved for financial assistance will not be charged more for emergency or other medically necessary hospital care than the amounts generally billed to individuals who have insurance coverage for such care.
The Hospital will not use gross charges as the amount a Financial Assistance Policy eligible patient is personally responsible for paying.
Emergency Medical Care
West Ascension Parish Hospital provides care for emergency medical conditions without discrimination and regardless of whether a patient is eligible for financial assistance.
The Hospital will not engage in actions that discourage individuals from seeking emergency medical care.
How to Apply for Financial Assistance
- Obtain a free copy of the Financial Assistance Policy, application, provider list, and summary online or in person.
- Complete the Financial Assistance Application.
- Submit the completed application with supporting documentation to Patient Financial Services.
- The Hospital will review the application and notify the patient of the determination or request additional information if needed.
Where to Submit the Application
West Ascension Parish Hospital
Attn: Patient Financial Services
301 Memorial Drive
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Website: www.westaph.org
Information That May Be Requested
- Recent pay stubs or wage statements
- Most recent federal income tax return
- Social Security, disability, unemployment, or benefit statements
- Proof of household size or dependents
- Insurance information or denial letters
- Medical bills from this Hospital or other providers
The Hospital may consider other information when standard documents are unavailable.
Billing and Collection Protections
The Hospital will make reasonable efforts to determine whether an individual is eligible for financial assistance before engaging in extraordinary collection actions, consistent with applicable law and the Hospital’s billing and collection practices.
Patients are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but assistance may still be available after billing has begun.
Need Help or Have Questions?
Patient Financial Services
West Ascension Parish Hospital
301 Memorial Drive
Donaldsonville, LA 70346
Phone: 225-474-2191
Website:
www.westaph.org
Language Assistance and Translations
Translated copies of this summary, the full Financial Assistance Policy, and the application are available in Spanish upon request from Patient Financial Services.
Additional language assistance may be available upon request, consistent with applicable language-access requirements and the needs of the community served by the Hospital.
Availability of Free Copies
- On the Hospital website at www.westaph.org
- At the Admissions Desk
- In the Emergency Department
- Through Patient Financial Services
- By mail upon request at no charge
