Cleveland ED Announces Plan to Redirect Non-Emergencies

CLEVELAND --

MetroHealth Medical Center has announced a plan that intends to free up the emergency room for “real” emergencies.

For many years, people without insurance or without a doctor have turned to the ER at Metro for treatment of minor health issues like colds. In addition to overcrowding the ER, it meant patients were not getting a complete check up.

The ER had been overrun with people suffering from minor illnesses, and the hospital expected a 10 percent jump in the number of patients without medical coverage this year.

Metro said the plan will help more people see a primary doctor.

The hospital has a new rating and payment system which will allow patients to be redirected from the ER to a family doctor for a co-pay, which could be as low as $5 for those who meet federal poverty levels.

Felicia Reeves said she used to go to the ER for health care, but now sees a primary doctor and is feeling better.

“The primary difference is, doctors will check you for everything, but the ER will just look at what you’re complaining about,” said Reeves.

Under the new plan, if a patient shows up in the ER for a non-emergency issue but still wants to see an ER doctor, they must pay a $75 fee up front. Or they can be referred to a primary doctor for the smaller co-pay.

The new fee system is expanding to include individuals who made up to $43,000 a year, and a family of four that made up to $88,000 a year. Co-pays for these groups will cost up to $30.

For more information, call the Metro Health Line at 216-778-7878, or visit metrohealth.org or keep reading.

To fellow members of the health care community, social service network, and patient advocates:

Beginning Monday, March 2, MetroHealth introduces its new Community Discount Program for Cuyahoga County residents, which eliminates our previous rating system. We created the new Community Discount Program to be simpler to understand, easier to qualify for, and accessible to a larger number of uninsured patients.

Most of our uninsured patients who have upcoming appointments in the next month are being notified by mail of the new program. They do not have to do anything to be enrolled. We are sending you copies of those letters, and the flyers we’ve created for our patients. We appreciate any help you can offer to help us educate the community about the program.

The most noticeable change is the elimination of our six “rating” categories. Now, there are three discount levels based on family income.

• Up to 200% of federal poverty level (FPL)
• 200 to 300% of FPL
• 300 to 400% of FPL

Patients with family income of less than 200% FPL (eg. family of four earning less than $44,100 per year) will be asked to pay a $5 time-of-service fee at their appointment with a MetroHealth doctor. This $5 fee is among the lowest in Greater Cleveland. Other applicable fees are included in the documents attached.

We encourage uninsured residents of Cuyahoga County to contact one of our financial counselors to see if they qualify for these discounts. Over the last few years, MetroHealth has doubled the number of financial counselors available to make it easier for patients to qualify for discounts and receive care. The new Community Discount Program is founded on MetroHealth’s Mission as “an academic health care system, committed to our communities by saving lives, restoring health, promoting wellness and providing outstanding, life-long care accessible to all.”

For more information go to a PDF file explaining more about the MetroHealth Discount Care Program.