Q: Is the Squirrel Hill Health Center a “free” or “walk-in” clinic?
A: Squirrel Hill Health Center is not a free or walk-in clinic. It is designed to serve as a primary care center that offers the highest quality medical care to everyone, whether or not they have health insurance. Our staff is dedicated to making each patient feel at ease in their “medical home,” but we do ask that you call to make an appointment to be seen by one of our providers, and to choose one of them as your primary care provider. While we are not free of charge, we do have an income based sliding fee scale for those without insurance.
Q: If I am not a current patient, can I see a provider at the health center?
A: The Squirrel Hill Health Center is always accepting new patients. In order to be seen as a patient, you must first make an appointment and choose one of our providers as your primary care provider. Depending on your insurance, you may need to call your insurance company and establish one of our providers as your primary care provider. We are not an urgent care center, nor do we see patients on a one-time basis. If you need emergency medical attention, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency facility. If you would like to be seen by one of our providers, please call us at 412-422-7442 to make an appointment.
Q: If I don’t have insurance, how much do visits cost?
A: We encourage all uninsured patients to apply for our sliding fee scale. Any uninsured patient with a household income of 200% of the federal poverty level or below can be approved for discounts on services at Squirrel Hill Health Center. Those earning 100% or below the federal poverty level pay the minimum fee of $15 for medical services, $25 for dental, and $5 for behavioral health. Those who do not qualify or who do not wish to apply for the sliding fee scale will be responsible for paying the full amount for services, however payment plans are available. For more information, click here.
Q: What if I can’t afford my medical bills?
A: We are happy to help you manage your medical bills. You are encouraged to meet with one of our billing specialists to discuss payment plans and other options that may work for your specific financial situation.
Q: What kind of services does the center offer?
A: We offer comprehensive primary care services to patients of all ages, including family medicine, pediatric care, adult medicine, geriatric care, gynecological services, mental health services, pre and post-natal services, blood work and other lab services, family planning, counseling, and dental care.
Q: May I just come see your behavioral health therapist or psychiatrist? If I am not a patient, will your case manager find services for me?
A: We believe that mental and behavioral health services and case management that connects patients to all needed services are a critical part of best primary medical care. Therefore, we offer those services to our patients, but only after they have first seen and been assessed by one of our primary care providers, who will help to coordinate the other services that they may require.
Do I need to have insurance to be a patient at Squirrel Hill Health Center?
No. The Squirrel Hill Health Center offers full healthcare service whether or not you have health insurance. The fact that healthcare coverage is difficult to access for so many Americans is one of the primary reasons the SHHC was created.
Can the SHHC help me get insurance?
If you are eligible for any health insurance, we will help you apply. In addition, our staff will aid you in applying for hospital financial assistance if required.
What Insurance Providers does the SHHC currently accept?
The SHHC accepts most insurance plans. Your insurance provider’s website is the best place to find out where your insurance is accepted. Depending on your insurance, you may be required to pay a co-pay prior to each appointment. This co-pay is expected to be paid on the day of your office visit. You are also expected to pay any balance that remains after your insurance company has been billed. If you are unable to pay your full balance, please talk to our office staff about setting up a payment plan.
No Surprises Act
When you see a healthcare provider at Squirrel Hill Health Center and are not insured or you have insurance with which we are not a participating provider, you have the right to receive an estimate of what your visit will cost. These are called “Good Faith Estimates”. Under the No Surprises Act, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
What if I don’t have insurance coverage?
The Squirrel Hill Health Center will provide you with full healthcare services whether or not you have health insurance.
Do I still have to pay out of pocket?
Yes, but this payment is based on need and ability to pay. Patients must complete a sliding fee application which will determine the amount of discount to be granted. For persons with household income less than 100% of the federal poverty limit there is a nominal payment of $15.00 for medical, $25.00 for dental, and $5.00 for behavioral health. Household incomes which are between 101-200% of federal poverty limits will receive a discount depending on where the household income falls within the above range. The MAXIMUM household income to be eligible for any discount is below. Households with incomes above this amount will be responsible for paying 100% of the charges.
What is the Sliding Fee Scale?
The discount applied to medical bills for patients without insurance depends upon each individual’s ability to pay. The “sliding fee scale” allows us to determine a fair discounted rate based on income, number of dependents, and other factors. We evaluate each patient based on need by conforming to federal expectations. It is expected that each patient take some responsibility for his or her healthcare. The minimum discounted rate is $15, but your financial status may require a higher payment.
How can I get evaluated?
You can download a copy of the application from this website or call us and ask for an application to be mailed to you. You should return the application prior to your first visit, so that the correct discount can be determined. In the case of non-emergency dental care, no visit will be scheduled until this application has been approved. In the case of emergency medical or dental care, the patients can be scheduled and the application given at the time of the first appointment. The application should be returned within 30 days of the appointment. You will be responsible for paying the nominal charge at this visit, however if you do not qualify for this level of discount, you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance. Payment is expected at time of service for future visits.
What can I expect after I turn in my completed application?
Within 30 days of receiving the application, the billing liaison, will review the application for any missing information and will get back in touch with you to request this information. Once this additional information is received, the application will then be reviewed and approved. A letter will be sent to you within 30 days of receipt of all the necessary information. The letter will tell you what discount you qualify for and the amount of time the discount will be good. In most cases, this will be one year, but in certain special circumstances there may be less time approved. You will be required to renew the application at the end of the discount period. If you are ineligible for our sliding fee scale, you will not receive any discounts and will be expected to pay the full price of services rendered. In either case, our billing specialist will be happy to speak with you about your unique financial situation and how we can best serve your specific medical and economic needs.
What if the sliding fee application seems like “too much work”?
We can’t evaluate your financial situation unless you complete the application. You will be charged the full amount of all medical services you receive if you do not fill out this application. You may also receive lab bills from Quest. Quest has agreed to discount the services to patients who qualify for the sliding fee scale. If the application is not completed you will be responsible for the entire Quest bill, which can be very expensive. Staff members are available to help you complete this paperwork if necessary.
What if I can’t afford to pay my full balance?
The Squirrel Hill Health Center offers an interest free monthly payment plan to any patient, regardless of financial status. You will need to speak with our billing liaison to set up a payment plan that works best for you. The payment plan is a contractual agreement that you must sign. If you cannot make one of your monthly payments, you must call the center and we will try our best to accommodate you. If you simply fail to make one of your monthly payments, you will automatically forfeit your budget plan and be expected to pay your balance in full.
Notice To All Patients
Squirrel Hill Health Center offers discounted services to all uninsured and underinsured patients with household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. For those patients with income below 100% of the limit, a nominal charge will be assessed. Applications for this discount are available at the front desk or by asking any SHHC employee. It is also available on the SHHC website. You are strongly urged to complete an application. If you have any questions, please call us at 412-422-7442.
सम्पूर्ण बिरामीहरुलाई जानकारी
स्क़ुइर्रेल हिल हेल्थ सेन्टर्ले स्वास्थ्य बिमा नभएका वा बिमा कम भएका र पारिवारिक आम्दानी संघिय गरीबी रेखाभन्दा २००% मुनि भएका सम्पुर्ण बिरामीहरूलाई छुटसहितको सेवा प्रदान गर्दछ । १००% हदभन्दा तल आम्दानि भएका बिरामीलाइ थोरै शुल्क लाग्ने छ l छुट सम्बन्धि आवेदन अगाडिको कार्यालयमा उपलब्द छ वा तपाईले SHHC को जो -कोहि कर्मचारीलाइ सोध्न सक्नु हुने छ l यो SHHC को वेबसाइटमl पनि उपलब्द छ l हामी तपाईहरुलाइ यो आवेदन भर्नाका निम्ति भरपुर आग्रह गर्दा छौ l यदी तपाई का जिज्ञासाहरु छन् भने 412-422-7442 मा सेन्डिलाइ सम्पर्ग गर्नु होला
¡AVISO A TODOS LOS PACIENTES!
El Centro de Salud de Squirrel Hill ofrece servicios con descuento para pacientes que no tienen aseguranza médica o con aseguranza de cobertura parcial cuyo ingreso familiar está por debajo del 200% del nivel de pobreza federal. Para aquellos pacientes con ingreso abajo del 100% del límite, un cargo nominal será cobrado. Las aplicaciones para obtener este descuento están disponibles en la recepción o puede preguntar a cualquier personal del SHHC. También está disponible en la página de web del SHHC. Se le invita fuertemente a completer una aplicación. Para cualquier pregunta, por favor llame a 412-422-7442.