Updated October 17, 2026. A hospital may offer financial assistance without identifying every eligible patient before sending a bill. The policies below explain who may qualify, when an application is required, and which bills need separate review.
This comparison covers six financial-assistance policies at nine Louisiana hospitals: two Ochsner Health hospitals, three Ochsner LSU Health hospitals, and four LCMC hospitals. Hospitals that share a policy are grouped together. Eligibility depends on the policy and the patient’s circumstances; the comparison does not measure how often hospitals approve applications.
What this comparison found
- Automatic screening and an application are different routes. A patient who is not selected by a screening model may still qualify by applying.
- Timing matters. Several policies describe predictive screening after other payment options are exhausted and before bad-debt assignment. That does not promise screening before the first bill.
- Prior payments and future care can change the route. The Ochsner and Ochsner LSU policies distinguish previously paid balances and encounter-specific presumptive approvals from formal applications.
- Touro’s policy contains conflicting income thresholds. Patients should request written clarification before relying on either figure.
Compare the nine hospitals by policy
FPL means the federal poverty guideline for the applicable household size. Income thresholds are only part of eligibility: assets, other payment sources, residence, covered services and provider/network exclusions can also matter. Use the linked policy and ask the financial counselor to apply it to the specific account.
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| Hospitals and document date | Income criteria in posted document | Screening route and important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center; Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge Effective January 1, 2025 | 100% assistance at or below 200% FPL for eligible services; discretionary hardship consideration above that. | Third-party screening may establish eligibility for uninsured patients; separate technical and professional review. Previously paid balances require a request, not presumptive review. |
| Ochsner LSU Health: Academic Medical Center, St. Mary Medical Center and Monroe Medical Center Approved December 1, 2025 | 100% assistance at or below 200% FPL for eligible services; discretionary hardship consideration above that. | Third-party screening may establish eligibility; previously paid balances are excluded from presumptive review but may be considered on request. |
| East Jefferson General Hospital Effective February 5, 2022 | Full-care criterion: at or below 250% FPL; discounted-care band above 250% through 400%, subject to assets and other resources. | Benefit/life-circumstance routes plus predictive screening. Model review, when used, follows exhaustion of other payment sources and precedes bad-debt assignment. |
| Touro Infirmary Latest listed revision January 1, 2020 | Eligibility section and plain-language summary use 250% FPL for full care; definition on policy p. 4 says 20%. Confirm discrepancy. Discounted band extends through 400%. | Benefit/life-circumstance and predictive-model routes; model relief covers retrospective services and does not establish future free care. |
| University Medical Center New Orleans Latest listed revision April 17, 2019 | Full-care criterion: at or below 250% FPL; discounted-care band above 250% through 400%, subject to assets and other resources. | Includes a qualifying 504HealthNet clinic attestation route. Also provides benefit/life-circumstance and predictive-model routes. |
| West Jefferson Medical Center Latest listed revision January 1, 2020 | Full-care criterion: at or below 250% FPL; discounted-care band above 250% through 400%, subject to assets and other resources. | Benefit/life-circumstance and predictive-model routes; model review follows other payment sources and precedes bad-debt assignment. |
Download the printable hospital-policy comparison and application worksheet (PDF). It includes source links and space to track each bill separately.
Three details that can affect whether someone gets help
Already made a payment? Ochsner Health §V.E.5 and Ochsner LSU Health §V.E.5 say previously paid technical/professional balances can be considered through a request, but not through their presumptive process. That is a reason to ask for an application review; it is not a promise of a refund. Their policies also limit presumptive approvals to the encounter under review, while formal approvals are described as lasting 90 days. Sources: Ochsner, PDF pp. 5–6; Ochsner LSU, PDF pp. 4–5.
Screened by a community clinic? UMC’s policy contains a specific route for a qualifying 504HealthNet member-clinic attestation of medical indigence and Louisiana residency. The clinic’s screening must meet the stated requirements; simply attending a member clinic does not establish eligibility. Source: UMC policy, PDF p. 14.
Received a bill despite a screening policy? The predictive-model sections at East Jefferson, Touro, UMC and West Jefferson describe review, when used, before bad-debt assignment after other eligibility/payment sources are exhausted. They also preserve the application route if the model does not qualify the patient. Ask whether screening occurred and request a written application determination. Sources: East Jefferson pp. 13–14, Touro pp. 13–14, UMC p. 15 and West Jefferson pp. 13–14.
A document conflict at Touro
Touro’s financial-assistance policy contains an important inconsistency. Page 4 defines free care using 20% of the federal poverty guideline, while the eligibility provision on page 7 allows full assistance at or below 250%. The separately posted plain-language summary also uses 250%. The comparison above reports the 250% eligibility threshold, but patients should ask Touro to confirm in writing which standard applies to their bill and how the hospital reached its decision.
Applications, time limits and physician bills
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| Policy group | Application and financial counselor | Timing and scope to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Ochsner Medical Center; Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge | Application / current application route Hospital assistance page 504-842-4190 | Formal approval: 90 days. Presumptive approval: encounter only. Application: 240 days from first post-discharge bill. Patient share, including eligible deductibles/copays; service, network and provider exclusions apply. |
| Ochsner LSU Health: Academic Medical Center, St. Mary Medical Center and Monroe Medical Center | Application / current application route Hospital assistance page 318-626-1168 | Formal approval: 90 days. Presumptive approval: encounter only. Application: 240 days from first post-discharge bill. Technical/professional services subject to exclusions and provider list; network restrictions require review. |
| East Jefferson General Hospital | Application / current application route Hospital assistance page 504-962-7000 | Application: 240 days from first post-discharge statement. Standard approval: six months; model-based relief is retrospective. Appeal: 30 days from determination letter. Uninsured/underinsured patient liability; excluded services and separately billed providers need separate review. |
| Touro Infirmary | Application / current application route Hospital assistance page 504-962-7000 | Application: 240 days from first post-discharge statement. Standard approval: six months. Appeal: 30 days from determination letter. Check separate provider lists; the hospital page identifies Crescent City Physicians as covered. |
| University Medical Center New Orleans | Application / current application route Hospital assistance page 504-962-7000 | Application: 240 days from first post-discharge statement. Standard approval: six months; model relief is retrospective. Appeal: 30 days from determination letter. Verify covered vs excluded providers using the hospital’s separate lists. |
| West Jefferson Medical Center | Application / current application route Hospital assistance page 504-962-7000 | Application: 240 days from first post-discharge statement. Standard approval: six months; model relief is retrospective. Appeal: 30 days from determination letter. Separately billed physicians and ambulance services may fall outside hospital assistance; check provider lists. |
A hospital approval may not cover the emergency physician, radiologist, anesthesiologist, ambulance company or another separately billing provider. Touro, UMC and West Jefferson publish provider-coverage information. Match the name on each bill to the applicable list and request that provider’s assistance policy where needed.
The reviewed documents describe a 240-day application period tied to the first post-discharge statement or bill. Do not confuse this with the date of discharge or a separate 30-day appeal period. For tax-exempt hospital organizations subject to §501(r), the IRS explanation distinguishes the 120-day notification period from the 240-day application period and explains protections before extraordinary collection actions. The period can be longer in specified circumstances, and a hospital may accept later applications. These rules do not mean every routine statement is prohibited or every disputed balance is automatically canceled.
A practical request for an account review
Ask the financial counselor: “Please evaluate this account under both the presumptive-eligibility provisions and the application process. Tell me which policy and income guidelines apply, what documents are missing, which bills and dates any approval would cover, and whether collection activity will be held while you review it.” Keep the answer and confirmation of submission.
- Make a list of hospital and professional bills with account numbers, dates of service and first-statement dates. Keep copies; redact personal details before sharing outside the appropriate billing channel.
- Use the hospital’s document checklist. Ask how to document lost income, unemployment, household changes or an unavailable record; do not assume one missing item ends the process.
- Ask about coverage or assistance from Medicaid, insurers, workers’ compensation or another payer when applicable. Disclose a pending injury claim accurately and ask how it affects the application.
- If denied, obtain the reason in writing and follow the deadline in the determination letter. The four reviewed LCMC policies describe a 30-day written appeal period.
- Request an updated balance showing the adjustment. Confirm separately whether the approval covers a later visit or another provider.
Financial assistance, an insurance adjustment and a payment plan are different outcomes. Record which was offered. Do not treat an installment plan as a finding that the account was screened for assistance.
Policies and sources
The hospitals are in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Monroe. Ochsner Medical Center and Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge share a policy, as do the three Ochsner LSU hospitals. Each of the four LCMC hospitals has a separate policy. Other Louisiana hospitals may have different requirements.
The comparison is based on the policies available through the hospitals’ financial-assistance pages on October 17, 2026. It addresses income requirements, screening, application deadlines and provider exclusions. An older revision date does not necessarily mean a policy has been replaced. The hospital should identify the policy governing the account and provide a written eligibility decision.
- Ochsner Medical Center; Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge — Effective January 1, 2025. Relevant locations: V.A–E; PDF pp. 3–6; scope list p. 1.
- Ochsner LSU Health: Academic Medical Center, St. Mary Medical Center and Monroe Medical Center — Approved December 1, 2025. Relevant locations: V.A–E, PDF pp. 2–5; Attachment D p. 7.
- East Jefferson General Hospital — Effective February 5, 2022. Relevant locations: Eligibility pp. 7–9; application p. 10; presumptive/appeal pp. 13–14.
- Touro Infirmary — Latest listed revision January 1, 2020. Relevant locations: Conflicting definition p. 4 vs eligibility pp. 7–8; screening pp. 12–14; appeal p. 14.
- University Medical Center New Orleans — Latest listed revision April 17, 2019. Relevant locations: Eligibility pp. 8–10; application p. 11; screening pp. 14–15; appeal p. 16.
- West Jefferson Medical Center — Latest listed revision January 1, 2020. Relevant locations: Eligibility pp. 7–9; application pp. 9–10; screening pp. 12–14; appeal p. 14.
The IRS financial-assistance policy guidance explains the written-policy framework for covered tax-exempt hospital facilities. This comparison summarizes posted criteria and provides a way to ask informed questions; a hospital must determine eligibility for the particular patient, service and account.
Related Louisiana guidance. Hospital assistance and recovery of medical expenses in an injury claim require separate analysis. Our medical-bill recovery guide explains paid amounts, balances, and adjustments. For questions about the care itself, see our guide to hospital inspections and patient complaints. Browse the full Louisiana Legal Research collection for additional topics.