Press Release: Know Where To Go for COVID-19 Health Care When You're Uninsured

Press Release

For Immediate Release:
August 5, 2020

Media Contacts: Miriam Harmatz, Esq., Executive Director, Florida Health Justice Project;
(786)-558-4950; harmatz@floridahealthjustice.org

 Know Where To Go for COVID-19 Health Care When You're Uninsured 
Guide to Testing, Treatment and Surprise Billing 

(Miami, Florida – August 5, 2020) –  Florida Health Justice Project (FHJP), a statewide non-profit health access advocacy group, has compiled a list of free or low-cost COVID-19 testing and treatment resources for uninsured residents at state and federally supported test sites, health clinics and certain hospitals.
https://www.floridahealthjustice.org/uploads/1/1/5/5/115598329/healthcare_resources_for_uninsured_in_florida_8.4.20.pdf

For uninsured residents  receiving, “surprise” billing for COVID-19 testing and treatment.  FHJP is providing information on steps patients can take if they are erroneously billed.

“At this point, there are no clear or enforceable consumer protections for uninsured patients billed for COVID-19 testing or treatment,” said Miriam Harmatz, FHJP Executive Director.
 
Under the HRSA COVID 19 Uninsured Program, hospitals that are reimbursed by the federal government for treatment of uninsured patients for COVID-19 are not supposed to bill the patient for their care. 
 
“Patients who end up getting a bill may not know if their health care provider got this federal funding and patients may not be told what to do about the bill,” Harmatz explained. “While health care advocates appreciate that Congress is reimbursing providers to treat uninsured patients, everyone would be far better off if Florida - like 38 other states - instead provided actual health coverage to uninsured residents by expanding Medicaid.” 
 
Florida is one of just 12 states that hasn’t expanded Medicaid. Learn more about why expanding Medicaid makes sense for Florida: https://www.floridahealthjustice.org/connecting-the-dots.html
 
FHJP is encouraging individuals who experience barriers to COVID-19 health care or a "surprise" bill and are interested in sharing their story to contact the organization through the Florida Health Justice Stories Project https://www.floridahealthstories.org/
 
Link to COVID-19 Resource Flyer: https://www.floridahealthjustice.org/uploads/1/1/5/5/115598329/healthcare_resources_for_uninsured_in_florida_8.4.20.pdf
 
Link to COVID-19 Surprise Billing Flyer: https://www.floridahealthjustice.org/uploads/1/1/5/5/115598329/surprise_billing_flyer.pdf
 
Florida Health Justice Project recognizes that access to quality and affordable health care is a human right and engages in comprehensive advocacy to expand healthcare access and promote health equity for vulnerable Floridians through advocacy, storytelling, outreach, education and technical assistance and support. www.floridahealthjustice.org

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