Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) created the new position of Financial Counselor October 6, 2016 when the hospital hired Rob Hood to take on that position. It’s the first Financial Counselor BBGH has ever had, and there’s good reason to have the service available.
“The hospital had the foresight to start looking for a Financial Counselor earlier in the year,” Mr. Hood said. “It all came down to the fact that the health insurance landscape has changed so drastically over the past few years. The current state of health care insurance, with its higher premiums and higher deductibles, means patients are going to see more out of pocket expense. With that, the hospital decided to have someone to advise patients and their families to help them make the decisions best for them as far as payment options.”
He said the hospital offers the following information to its patients: How much their insurance plan is estimated to cover and the amount estimated to be the patient’s responsibility, which is based on the estimated payment from the patient’s insurance. “I’m here to provide that information to patients and to offer them several options on how to meet that obligation,” Mr. Hood said.
The hospital has four options patients can choose from. “We have a discount option for prompt pay discounts for early payment on all qualifying accounts,” he said. “Another option is a 12-month payment option at 0 percent interest. The patient’s outstanding balance is divided by 12. This is the required minimum payment with no interest charged. The third option is our First National Bank loan program, where BBGH, in cooperation with First National Bank, offers a guaranteed bank loan program to help pay medical bills. This program allows patients to stretch out their payments over 48 months, with First National Bank offering competitive interest rates. All payments are made to First National Bank. Our fourth option is our BBGH financial assistance program, where, after all alternative financial resources have been exhausted, patients who meet the financial criteria to qualify may be considered for financial assistance.”
Mr. Hood said he has already had many referrals. “Right off the bat we’ve been able to set people up with payment options, with referrals from Diagnostic Imaging Dept., Special Services Dept., and others,” he said. “I’ve gone up to talk to patients on the floor when Special Services determines there’s a need for some advice. I’ve talked with quite a few patients needing Diagnostic Imaging, MRI or CT scan services. We’ve been able to help patients needing surgical services. There’s been quite a few we’ve been able to assist.”
Mr. Hood stressed that for any emergent services, no one is ever turned away. “If someone comes into the ER, or needs surgery that is non-elective, or an MRI, or Lab tests, to name just a few, we would never turn them away,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
He is enjoying his new responsibilities. “I’ve really enjoyed the new position,” he said. “Knowing there is a need for someone to inform patients of their financial responsibilities, opening up in transparency, which in the past was pretty opaque, is a good thing. And being able to provide the financial tools to help structure a feasible payment plan for them is good as well.”
Mr. Hood has a long history in finance. He started with Community First Bank in 1999 as a collector. From 2006 to 2012 he was with First National Bank as an ag banker and from 2012 to 2016 with Sandhills State Bank as Vice-President. He and his wife Colleen have been married 21 years and have two children, Bailey, 16 and Macala, 12. The children attend Alliance Public Schools. The family lives on a ranch north of Lakeside. The ranch has been in their family for over 100 years, which is a source of pride. “We still work it, with about 250 head of cattle,” he concluded.
Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.