Financial Assistance Programs
A goal of Public Health and the Medical Debt Coalition is to help patients receive the full benefit of financial assistance resources. To achieve this, we’re working to simplify and clarify applications and improve eligibility assessment and prescreening processes. We are also exploring solutions to qualify patients for financial assistance early and for a sustained period of time to reduce the burden on both patients and healthcare systems.
In September 2025, Public Health released a comprehensive report on hospital financial assistance practices in LA County. In addition, the Financial Assistance Best Practices Committee released its recommendations for hospital financial assistance programs, including the adoption of a model application and policy. Press release: Los Angeles County Releases Landmark Report on Hospital Charity Care and Launches New Tools to Expand Access to Financial Assistance.
Report: Landscape of Hospital Financial Assistance
Hospital financial assistance programs are important for preventing medical debt and are legally required in the state of California. The purpose of the Landscape of Hospital Financial Assistance in Los Angeles County report is to illustrate trends in hospital financial practices and areas of improvement and to inform targeted interventions to better protect consumers from financial harm.
Best Practices in Financial Assistance
The Hospital Financial Assistance Best Practices Committee, which includes hospital administrators, legal aid providers, community organizations, and healthcare leaders, was convened to systematically review financial assistance programs throughout LA County. The committee identified 30 best practices for hospital financial assistance programs, explained in a toolkit with actionable steps to increase access, strengthen communication, simplify eligibility determinations, and improve daily operations.
Model Application and Policy
One identified Best Practice recommendation is for hospitals to use a uniform, accessible financial assistance application that works for both patients and providers across the county. To support adoption, Public Health and the Best Practices Committee created adaptable model documents. Review the complete toolkit here or the individual components below.
- Model Application (pdf | docx)
- Model Plain Language Summary (pdf | docx)
- Model Financial Assistance Policy (pdf | docx)
Please see page 2 of the Model Documents for use instructions.
Presumptive Eligibility to Expedite Qualification
Another Best Practice is to use presumptive eligibility (PE) to qualify patients for financial assistance before a bill is sent. PE uses simple signs of qualifying income, such as being in programs like CalFresh, and electronic tools that pull income information to help hospitals quickly determine eligibility. Public Health is working with partners to develop a shared services portal to reduce the cost of PE for hospitals and help more patients receive assistance.