Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics offers different payment options and programs to pay for your health care services.
Health Insurance Billing
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics will bill your health insurance carriers, provided you submit all the necessary information. This includes Medicare supplemental policies. You are responsible for any portion of your charges remaining unpaid by your insurance and must remit payment within 30 days.
If your insurance carrier does not pay within 60 days you will receive a bill for the full balance. If you feel your insurance company should have paid your bill, please contact your insurance company or call Patient Accounts at (563) 252-1121 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
It is also your responsibility to be aware of any exclusions, benefits, co-payments and deductibles outlined in your insurance plan.
Billing for services provided by Guttenberg Municipal Hospital and Cornerstone Family Practice are billed on one statement from GMHC Patient Accounts. If another healthcare provider is involved with your care, we will share your billing information with that provider so they can file with your insurance company directly. Other providers may include radiologists, pathologists, etc. Their charges are billed separately and are not included in your hospital bill.
Payment Options
GMHC offers these payment options:
- Cash
- Check/money order
- Debit cards
- Credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover& American Express
- Automatic bank transfer
- Care Credit (some restrictions apply—call 563-252-1121 for more information)
- Online Bill Pay
If you are concerned about your hospital bill, we have other options, which we can discuss with you, such as payment arrangements or assistance through our Financial Assistance Program.
Under the Affordable Care Act, all individuals are required to have a health insurance plan or face penalties. Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics can help individuals and families better understand and enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. For assistance, call the Family Resource Center (563) 252-3215 or call (563) 252-1121 and ask to speak to a social worker or GMHC Patient Accounts.
Self-Pay/No Insurance
Patients who do not carry insurance coverage, who do not provide Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics with adequate filing information, or who wish to file their own insurance claims are responsible for paying their hospital bill. Discounts are available to self-pay/no insurance patients. Please call Patient Accounts at (563) 252-1121 for more information.
GMHC Financial Counseling
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics is committed to providing financial assistance to persons who have healthcare needs and are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program, or otherwise unable to pay, for medically necessary care based on their individual financial situation. Financial counseling resources and payment options are available to assist patients in prompt resolution to their financial obligations for their healthcare services.
GMHC strives to ensure that the financial capacity of people who need health care services does not prevent them from seeking or receiving care. GMHC will provide, without discrimination, care of emergency medical conditions to individuals regardless of their eligibility for government assistance. For Financial Counseling please call Patient Accounts at (563) 252-1121 or (563) 252- 5546.
Past Due Accounts
If your account becomes past due, GMHC will take appropriate action to recover the amount due. If there is a problem with your account it is your responsibility to contact our Patient Account Specialists to discuss a workable solution.
Certain circumstances occasionally may make it difficult to pay your bills on time; therefore payment plans may be arranged through our Patient Account Specialists. Learn more about financial assistance.
Apply for financial assistance.
Medicare Benefits
Medicare requires that all tests have supporting diagnoses to demonstrate the test is medically necessary. If your physician orders a procedure or service that Medicare deems to NOT meet medical necessity, you will be asked to sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN). The ABN informs you in advance that Medicare is not likely to pay for the procedure or service, and that you will be responsible for payment. By signing the ABN, you are indicating that you understand and are willing to proceed with the procedure. You will then receive a hospital bill for payment of the service(s) provided.
You can agree to be financially responsible for the procedure by signing the ABN form, or you can refuse the tests or services. If you refuse the tests or services, you will be asked to sign a form indicating you have elected not to have the services.
Senior Health Insurance Information (SHIIP) for our Medicare Patients
Through our Family Resource Center, GMHC is a local sponsor of a SHIIP counselor. SHIIP exists to help seniors or those on Medicare/Medicaid with questions and concerns about their insurance. Our counselor can answer questions regarding Part A or Part B or Medicare, supplemental insurance, Managed Care, Part D prescription coverage and Long-Term Care insurance.
Our SHIIP counselor is available Tuesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Family Resource Center located at 222 South River Park Drive in Guttenberg. Please call (563) 252-3215 for an appointment.
Services Not Billed by Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics
During your stay, you may receive treatment from providers who will bill separately for their services. GMH will give your insurance information to these providers. If you have questions about their bills, please contact them directly. Examples of separate services:
- Ambulance services other than Guttenberg Ambulance
- Radiologists (physicians who read and review X-rays)
- Pathologists (physicians who interpret and diagnose changes in tissues and body fluids)
- Visiting Surgeons not employed by Guttenberg Municipal Hospital
- Contracted Services including Midwest Sleep Lab and Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health
