Financial Matters

Checking Out
When your physician decides you are ready to leave the hospital, he/she will write an order for your discharge. Discharge times generally occur between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Physicians may discharge earlier or later pending required information and proper medical clearance. The discharge process begins when your physician informs you that you will be discharged and writes the actual order. Actual discharge and final approval to leave the hospital does not occur until the nurse completes the documentation, provides you with any additional education that you need, removes all IV lines and equipment and offers you an escort to the entrance of the hospital.

As the hospital admits and discharges many patients every day, your room will be assigned to another patient shortly after you leave. If you find that you may be delayed, please tell your nurse as early in the day as possible so that other arrangements can be made for newly admitted patients.

In preparation for discharge, the staff will work with you to prepare for your return home. For your continued recovery be sure to discuss your discharge instructions and medications with your doctor or nurse. Medication prescriptions can be filled at the Outpatient Pharmacy:

GW Medical Faculty Associates Pharmacy
22nd and I Streets, NW - Ground Floor
202-741-3600
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Closed on weekends and holidays

You will receive instructions about follow-up care, such as diet, medications, level of activity and follow-up appointments with your physician. Please be sure to ask about any concerns you may have.

Insurance

You are responsible for the total charges for the care and treatment you received at The George Washington University Hospital. In most cases, the hospital will accept your assignment of insurance benefits and will forward your hospital bill directly to the insurance company. We will allow 90 days from the date that we bill the insurance company for payment. If you have not received a notice of payment from your insurer within 60 days of receiving a copy of your hospital bill, we recommend that you contact the insurer directly and encourage speedy payment. If the insurance company has not sent payment to the hospital within 90-days, the status of your account may change from “insurance pay” to “patient pay.” At that time, you will be expected to make a prompt payment.

All patients should familiarize themselves with the terms of their insurance coverage. This will help you understand the hospital’s billing procedures and charges. Please be advised that any discrepancies relating to insurance benefits are primarily the responsibility of the patients to resolve.

If there is a question about your insurance coverage, a member of the Patient Accounting Department may contact you or a member of your family or friend while you are here. Information is needed in order to process your claims.

Hospital Fees and Bills

Your daily room rate includes many items such as meals and maintenance of the room. Charges for nursing care and special services ordered by your physician, such as x-rays, laboratory tests, the provision of blood products and medications, as well as operating room and anesthesia charges, are listed separately.

Your attending physician's fee and any consulting physicians' fees will not be included in your hospital bill; these physicians will bill you separately. If your physician is a member of the medical center's full-time clinical staff of the GWU Medical Faculty Associates, Inc. you will receive a bill from that group. You can expect a final bill approximately seven days after discharge.

A financial counselor, located in the admitting department, is available to you and your family or friends Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. If you have questions concerning your bill, please contact the Patient Accounting Department at 202-715-4905.

Under District of Columbia law, The George Washington University Hospital must make its services available to all people in the community. GW Hospital is not allowed to discriminate against a person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, physical handicap, source of income, or place of residence or business, or because a person is covered by a program such as Medicare or Medicaid.

GW Hospital is also required to provide a reasonable volume of services without charge or at a reduced charge to persons unable to pay. Contact the Admissions Department at 202-715-4050, or the Business Office at 202-715-4905 if you are eligible to receive services without charge or at a reduced charge. If you believe that you have been denied services or consideration for treatment without charge, or at a reduced charge without good reason, please contact hospital administration at 202-715-4500, and call the District of Columbia State Health Planning and Development Agency at 202-442-5875.

Patient Satisfaction Surveys

You may be contacted by The Gallup Organization, who has been hired by the hospital to conduct regular confidential surveys of patients who have received services at the hospital. The results of these surveys are used to enhance the quality of care provided to patients, as well as allow the hospital to improve the services it offers. For these calls, Gallup is not given any information about a patient’s diagnosis and treatment. However, Gallup is provided with your name, telephone number, age, visit/discharge dates and the unit of discharge. Should the Gallup Organization contact you, please be assured that your answers will be kept confidential, and will be presented to hospital management only as part of a composite of all other responses.

Contributions and Donations

Contributions and donations may be made to The George Washington University Women’s Board. Founded in 1898, the Women’s Board has a rich history of volunteerism and philanthropy. Over the years they have dedicated their efforts to programs and services for improving the hospital experience for patients and their families and friends.

Gifts of appreciation or memorials of any amount will be gratefully acknowledged to the donor, family and the one so honored. A gift may be specified for a particular need, however as the hospital is a for-profit organization, donations may be used for charitable purposes only. Please send checks and donations to:

The George Washington University
Hospital Women’s Board, Inc.
PO Box 58128
Washington, DC 20037-8128

Your Stay

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Patient Rights and Responsibilities

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Financial Matters

Checking Out

Insurance

Hospital Fees and Bills

Patient Satisfaction Surveys

Contributions and Donations

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