Financial Assistance Policy

Ridgeview is committed to providing behavioral health care services to all patients regardless of race, sex, or the ability to pay. Financial assistance will be provided to individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program (TnCare/Medicaid, Medicare), or otherwise unable to pay for necessary behavioral health care services, based on their individual financial situation.

Financial assistance is not considered to be a substitute for personal responsibility. Patients are expected to contribute to the cost of their care based on their individual ability to pay. In order to manage its resources responsibly and to allow Ridgeview to provide the appropriate level of assistance to the greatest number of persons in need, Ridgeview establishes the following guidelines for the provision of financial assistance.

Services Eligible Under this Policy

For purposes of this policy, "financial assistance" refers to services provided by Ridgeview without charge or at a discount to qualifying patients. The following services are eligible for financial assistance:

1. Emergency services provided by Ridgeview’s Crisis Team
2. Physician services- provided on an emergent or non-emergent basis;
3. Therapy services- including individual, group and family therapy;
4. Any other services provided will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis at Ridgeview’s
5. discretion.

Determination of Eligibility for Financial Assistance

Eligibility for financial assistance will be considered for those individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or ineligible for any government health care benefit program. The granting of financial assistance will be based on income, and will also take into consideration other relevant information such as household size and excessive medical expenses.

Applying for Financial Assistance

Every effort will be made to ensure that patients with an inability to pay are provided information regarding the financial assistance that is available. All individuals seeking services from Ridgeview will be evaluated for eligibility for financial assistance at the time of registration. In addition, an individual may request to be reevaluated for financial assistance at any time. Requests for financial assistance shall be processed promptly and Ridgeview shall notify the patient or applicant within 30 days of receipt of a completed application.

Amounts Charged to Patients

Once a patient has been determined by Ridgeview to be eligible for financial assistance, that patient shall not receive any future bills for eligible services based on undiscounted gross charges. The amounts Ridgeview will charge patients qualifying for financial assistance are based on a sliding fee scale. Patients whose income exceeds the eligibility criteria may be eligible to receive discounted rates on a case-by-case basis based on their specific circumstances, such as catastrophic illness or medical indigence, at the discretion of Ridgeview.

Emergency Care

All emergency care will be provided without discrimination to all individuals seeking such care regardless of their eligibility under this Financial Assistance Policy.

This Policy is intended to describe Ridgeview’s general financial assistance guidelines. If you need help paying for the services you receive, please call one of our financial assistance representatives at 865-482-1076, or speak to one of the office staff at the clinic where you receive services.