Abstract
Virginia’s uninsured rate has dropped significantly since Medicaid expansion, but statewide gaps in coverage remain, especially among communities of color and for those transitioning from Medicaid to Medicare at age sixty-five. Accordingly, greater utilization of charity care is necessary to prevent the most vulnerable Virginians from experiencing crippling medical debt—debt they may by unable to pay due to limited resources.
Unfortunately, charity care requirements for providers suffer from a lack of clarity and accountability at both the state and federal level. This article surveys the current laws and regulations that govern charity care in Virginia and highlights problems that prevent eligible individuals from accessing charity care. To find solutions, this article conducts a comparative analysis of other states’ efforts. Multiple states, including North Carolina, Maryland, and Oregon, have taken creative approaches to increasing enforcement, utilization, and transparency of charity care.
Drawing upon lessons from other states, this article concludes by recommending that Virginia explore several policy options, including: applying minimum charity care requirements to all hospitals in the state, increasing the income threshold for charity care, specifying income thresholds for financial assistance policies, requiring presumptive screenings for charity care when individuals are eligible for other needs-based assistance programs, and requiring a standardized statewide application for charity care and financial assistance.
Recommended Citation
Victoria Richardson,
An Analysis of Charity Care Policy in Virginia and Recommendations for the Future,
28
Rich. Pub. Int. L. Rev.
201
(2024).
Available at:
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/pilr/vol28/iss2/7