Eric Jones Law

Patients who need hospital care, but are unable to pay for it, may be eligible for free or reduced fee care at local hospitals through HCAP or hospital financial assistance programs. For both programs, the patient must fill out an application and provide proof of income.

Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP)
Under an Ohio law, HCAP (Ohio Administrative Code 5101:3-2-0717), hospitals are required to “provide, without charge to the individual, basic, medically necessary hospital-level services” for patients at or below the federal poverty level.

To be eligible for HCAP:

1. You must be an Ohio resident, and
2. You are not a recipient of the Medicaid program, and
3. Your family income is at or below the 2007 Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Prior hospital bills, paid or unpaid, may be covered by HCAP. Patients can apply for HCAP up to 3 years after they are notified about it. Patients should contact the hospital’s billing department about prior bills, and ask to apply for HCAP – even if the bill has already been sent to collections. If a patient paid a bill but was eligible for HCAP, they may be reimbursed.

Hospital Financial Assistance Programs
For patients who do not qualify for HCAP, all local hospitals have their own financial assistance programs. Since these programs are voluntary, each hospital has different rules and procedures.

These programs cover hospital services only
Both HCAP and hospital financial assistance programs cover only hospital charges, not bills from non-hospital providers (such as x-rays, radiologists, and other medical providers who are not hospital staff members). However, many doctors may reduce or drop their fees when told that the patient qualified for HCAP. Patients should ask hospital billing departments to provide them with documentation stating they qualified for HCAP or other programs. The patient can then share this documentation with non-covered providers.
http://www.uhcanohio.org/newsletter/reports/fact_columbus.html

OHIO ASSOCIATION OF FREE CLINICS
Click Here for an interactive map of these clinics; including contact information and directions.

AAPIO Clinic (Bharatiya Temple)
3671 Hyatts Road
Powell, Ohio 43065
AAPIOCLINIC@yahoo.com

Ashland Christian Health Center
400 Orange Street Suite 208
Ashland, Ohio 44805
419.207.3911

Asian Health Initiative/AACS
4100 N. High Street, Suite 301
Columbus, Ohio 43214
614.220.4023 x235

The Breathing Association
1520 Old Henderson Road
Columbus, Ohio 43220
614.437.1520

By The Way, Inc. Medical Mission – Free Clinic
1029 S. Broad Street
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
740.653.5734

Clinic at Faith Mission
315 E. Long Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.224.6617 ext. 2173

Columbus Free Clinic
2231 N. High St.
Columbus, Ohio 43212
614.404.8417

Community Health Clinic
743 E. Main Street
Newark, Ohio 43055
740.345.1613

Compassion Medical Clinic of Williams County
614 E. Edgerton Street (PO Box 644)
Bryan, Ohio 43506
419.630.0313

Compassionate Care of Shelby County
124 North Ohio Avenue
Sidney, Ohio 45365
www.ccsccares.org
937.492.9400

Free Clinic of Clinton County, Inc
62 East Sugartree Street
Wilmington, Ohio 45177
937.383.3382
937.383.0610 fax

Good Neighbor House
844 S. Patterson Boulevard
Dayton, Ohio 45402
www.goodneighborhouse.org
937.224.3003

Helping Hands Health & Wellness Center
1421 Morse Road
Columbus, Ohio 43229
614.262.5094

Jefferson County 4th Street Health Center
701 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
740.283.2856

Madison County Health Partners
210 North Main Street
London, Ohio 43140
740.845.7286

Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Community Health Programs
055 Grosvenor Hall
Athens, Ohio 45701
740.593.9364

Columbus Medical Association Physicians Free Clinic
431 E. Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
www.goodhealthcolumbus/pfc
614.240.7430

Reach Out of Montgomery County
25 E. Foraker Street
Dayton, Ohio 45409
www.daytonreachout.org
937.258.2000

Xenos/Youth For Christ Free Clinic
40 N. Chicago Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43222

1934 N. Fourth Street
Columbus, Ohio 43201
614.823.6510 x840

Additional clinic locations throughout ohio are available at:
http://www.ohiofreeclinics.org/CurrentMembers.htm