Billing at OHSU
What You Can Expect
Healthcare billing can be a very confusing process for patients and their families, especially during times of illness. We are committed to providing our patients with accurate, patient-friendly billing statements, quality customer service and financial assistance when needed. Educating our patients about the healthcare billing process is the goal of the following information. We hope this is helpful. We look forward to your comments and suggestions.
Coming soon!
New OHSU billing statements designed to be easier to understand. We’ve designed a new statement based on feedback from our patients. Watch this Web site for more information.
How will you process my bills for care I receive at OHSU Hospitals and Clinics?
Will I receive more than one bill?
What can I do to help OHSU with this process?
I do not have insurance. How will you bill me?
What should I do if I can’t pay my bill?
Have questions or need to contact us?
How will you process my bills for care I receive at OHSU Hospitals and Clinics?
- After your visit, Patient Business Services will bill your insurance company using the information you provided when you registered for your services.
- At the same time, we will send you a “This is not a bill” statement to let you know that we have billed your insurance company. Please review this statement carefully to ensure the information about you and your insurance company is correct. You don’t need to pay anything when you receive this statement unless an amount is indicated in “Amount Patient Owes.”
- After your insurance company processes the bill, they will send you an Explanation of Benefits that explains how much your insurance will pay and how much you are responsible for paying.
- We expect your insurance company to pay the bill within a reasonable amount of time (usually 30 days from the date we bill them). We will ask you for assistance if your insurance company does not pay promptly.
- You will receive statements every 30 days until the amount owed by you and/or your insurance company has been paid in full.
- After we receive payment from your insurance company, we will send a bill to your second insurance company, if you have one.
- If you don’t have a second insurance company, we will send you a “Balance Due” statement for the amount your insurance company says you owe. Your payment is due within 30 days of the date on the “Balance Due” statement. You may make your payment by check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card.
- We consider bills delinquent when there is an unpaid account balance and no payment arrangements have been made 30 days from the "Balance Due" statement. These bills may be placed with an outside agency for collection purposes.
Will I receive more than one bill?
OHSU will bill you for our facility charges and/or the “technical” portion of the services. Your surgeon, anesthesiologist, pathologist, radiologist, cardiologist and other doctors who are part of your care team will bill you separately for their professional services. Please contact their billing offices directly with your questions. Below are the most frequently requested physician billing office numbers:
OHSU Medical Group
503 494-8417
800 752-4447 (toll free)
Casey Eye Institute
800 428-6071 (toll free)
Anesthesiology
877 444-4411
What can I do to help OHSU with this process?
- Give us your complete health insurance information when you register.
- Tell us when you’re personal information or your insurance information changes.
- Understand your health benefits and how your insurance plan works.
- Be sure you know what services require authorizations and referrals, and what services may not be included in your plan.
- Complete and submit your insurance claim form if your insurance company requires.
- Respond quickly when your insurance company asks for information (such as accident details).
- If you receive a bill from us that you feel your insurance company should cover, first contact them directly to ask why they have not paid the claim.
I do not have insurance. How will you bill me?
If you do not have health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, we will send you a bill for any balance that you did not pay when you received the services. Please pay the bill or call us to make payment arrangements as soon as you receive it.
You may make your payments by check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card.
What should I do if I can’t pay my bill?
Please contact one of our customer service representatives. We will talk with you about options for financial assistance.
OHSU Patient Business Services
503 494-8760
800 500-5582 (toll free)
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m.
Have questions or need to contact us?
- Billing questions, changes in insurance coverage, or need to request an itemized statement:
A customer service representative is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., at 503 494-8760 or toll free at 800 500-5582.
- Written correspondence:
OHSU Hospital and Clinics
Patient Business Services
P.O. Box 575
Portland, OR 97207-0575
E-mail questions (Expect a response within 48 hours.):
askus@ohsu.edu
