Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Assistance

Individuals residing in our local service area that do not have insurance are eligible for financial assistance for medically necessary services at SOMC. SOMC offers income-based sliding scale discounts.

If I do not have insurance can I still use SOMC?
Yes. SOMC provide financial assistance to residents of the communities we serve and to those who are unable to pay for medically necessary services.

Can I qualify for financial assistance if I have insurance?
Yes. Financial assistance opportunities at SOMC are available to all of our patients for medically necessary services providing all qualifications are met.

What financial assistance programs are available?

Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP)
Caring Program

How do I apply for financial assistance?
Applications can be obtained using the following methods:

Download the Application for Financial Assistance.
Available on the back of our billing statements.
Can be obtained by registration staff at SOMC.
For inpatient services, application can be obtained and completed by an Eligibility Program (EAP) Representative.

How do I return a completed application to your offices?

Mailing Address:
Southern Ohio Medical Center
Attention: Patient Accounting DCI Bldg
1248 Kinney’s Lane
Portsmouth, Ohio 45662

Fax Number: (740) 356-7647

How do you determine what kind of discount is applied?
SOMC references The Federal Poverty Levels. Other criteria used are the number of dependents under the age of 18 in a household and household income. All of this information helps determine and allocate the proper discount.

How will I know if I am eligible for financial assistance?
Once the application and all necessary income documentation have been received and processed, a letter of approval or denial is mailed to the guarantor on the account.

What if I cannot pay the balance owed after the discount has been applied?
Interest-free payment plan options are available.

How do I contact staff to help me with any questions I may have?

Questions can be submitted online by clicking here
Call customer service at: (740) 356-7636 or (740) 356-7640

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Patient Billing

How can I pay my SOMC hospital bill?

Online – SOMC offers a secure way for you to pay SOMC hospital bills online. Click or logon to somc.org/service/bill/ with a copy of your billing statement.
By Telephone – Call our Cashiering Department at (740) 356-6245 or (740) 356-7538. We accept Discover, MasterCard and VISA credit cards as well as Debit Cards.
By Mail – Send your payment with the billing statement you have received, through the mail to the address shown on the bill.
In Person – You can make a payment in person at the Cashiering Office located on the 2nd floor of the DCI Building at the corner of 17th & Waller Streets.
Payroll Deduction – SOMC employees may choose to payroll deduct their SOMC payment(s) by calling our Patient Accounting department at (740) 356-7636 or (740) 356-7640.
If you have a SOMC Foundation bill, please call Physician’s Billing at (740) 356-7602 or (740) 356-7545.

What if I can't pay my bill?
SOMC is a non-profit organization. We have interest-free payment plans to assist you with your bills. If you are unable to pay after exhausting all other payment options, you may be eligible for financial assistance on your medical bills. For information on our assistance programs please download our financial assistance form or contact our Patient Accounting Department at (740) 356-7639 or (740) 356-7645. Information on our financial assistance program is also available on the back of your hospital statement.

How can I make payment arrangements?
Payment arrangements can be made by contacting our Patient Accounting Department at (740) 356-7636 or (740) 356-7640.

I've received multiple statements. Who do I call with questions?
When treatment is provided to a patient, often more than one professional service is required to provide their medical needs. If you are seen at the hospital you may receive separate bills from a surgeon or physician, anesthesiologist, pathologist or radiologist, depending on your services.

If you have any questions regarding your bill from any providers, please contact the provider directly with the phone number listed on their statement.

Will I have to pay prior to receiving services?
Co-payments, deductibles and co-insurance amounts may be requested prior to or at time of service. NOTE: Patients are seen for all medically necessary situations regardless of their ability to pay.

Certain elective self pay procedures require payments prior to service, including but not limited to high dollar imaging, cosmetic surgery and sterilization reversals.

Where should I mail my payment?
The payment should be mailed to the address on the billing statement. If you do not have a statement payment should be mailed to the address below. Please include the name of the patient and the date of service if possible.

For Southern Ohio Medical Center bills:
Southern Ohio Medical Center
Attn: Posting Dept
1248 Kinney’s Lane
Portsmouth, OH 45662

For Southern Ohio Medical Care Foundation bills:
Southern Ohio Medical Care Foundation
Attn: Physician Billing
P.O. Box 791
Portsmouth, OH 45662

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Medicare & Medicaid

Below are some answers to the most frequently asked Medicare and Medicaid questions for patients treated at SOMC.

What are Self Administered Drugs?
For more information, please review the Self Administered Drugs Coverage fact sheet.

What is an ABN Medical Necessity Waiver?
You will be asked to read and sign an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) – Medical Necessity Waiver prior to receiving care that falls in a category that Medicare or Medicaid may not consider covered. In that instance, you accept responsibility for payment of the full amount charged.

How does receiving an ABN help me?
The Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) helps you to make an informed consumer decision whether to receive the service or item and to be prepared to pay for it.

I have lots of questions about my Medicare and/or Medicaid coverage. Where can I get answers?

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Insurance Billing

Below are some answers to the most frequently asked insurance billing questions for patients treated at SOMC:

Will SOMC contact my insurance for pre-certification or authorization?
It is recommended that you contact your insurance plan or provider directly if you have any questions or concerns about pre-certification or pre-authorization.

I have multiple health insurance companies. How do I know who to bill?
Coordination of benefit rules apply. Contact your insurance provider or your employer for help in determining the proper order for billing.

How do I know if SOMC is in my insurance company’s network of preferred providers?
To verify your insurance network status, please contact our Managed Care Reimbursement Representative at (740) 356-8030 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Can I get an estimate of what I will owe for my services before I receive them?
Yes you can. If you know the services your doctor has ordered for you, you can contact either your insurance carrier directly or our Clinical Reimbursement Specialist at (740) 356-8182 between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Our Clinical Reimbursement Specialist can provide you with an estimate of your charges.

Why aren't all services covered by my insurance company?
Under any plan, there may be services that are not covered because the insurance company may consider them routine, unnecessary or not a covered benefit. If you disagree with how your insurance company processed your claim, you should contact your insurance company for more information.

What if my insurance coverage changes?
You should bring your current insurance card to your next visit.

What should I do if my insurance sends its payment directly to me?
Insurance payments for claims that are sent directly to you, whether from primary or secondary insurance companies, should be used to pay outstanding charges to SOMC as patients are financially responsible for all outstanding charges. The check should be endorsed and forwarded to the address below.

Southern Ohio Medical Center
Attn: Cashiering Dept
1248 Kinney’s Lane
Portsmouth. OH 45662.

Why do I still owe a balance if my insurance company has paid?
Based on your insurance plan, you may be responsible for deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance or services not covered by your insurance company.

How do I file a work injury claim?
In the state of Ohio, the injured worker or the employer can file a claim at https://www.ohiobwc.com/default.aspx. You will need your employer’s policy number with the Bureau in order to file the claim. If you do not know your employer’s policy number, there is an option to search for that information on the website when you file your claim.

In the state of Kentucky, all employers are self insured. So, you will not need to file a claim with the Bureau. The hospital will bill employer’s Third Party Administrator (TPA) or the employer itself. You will need to provide us with the name and address for the bill.

If I’m treated for a work injury, why do I need to give you my medical insurance information?
If your claim is disallowed by BWC or put in litigation, we can bill your medical insurance for the hospital charges. If you do not have medical insurance, you can ask for a Financial Assistance form or complete the form on the back of your statement.

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(740) 356-7636
(740) 356-7640