02/13/2026
โผ๏ธPublic Service Announcement!โผ๏ธ
๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐: ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ
We want to keep our patients informed about an important change in our referral process.
๐๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ง๐จ๐ง-๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐๐/๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ (๐๐๐) ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ.
Federal regulationsโbased on Subpart D and Section 506 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003โrequire Medicareโparticipating hospitals to:
A). Participate in IHSโfunded PRC programs
B). Accept MedicareโLike Rates (MLR) as payment in full
C). Not bill the patient for any remaining balance
Because Trinity is a Medicareโparticipating hospital, they are required to follow these rules. Instead, they have been balance billing our patients, which violates federal protections for IHS beneficiaries. For this reason, we must limit our referrals during this time.
"๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ?"
Balance billing happens when a patientโs health insurance company pays an out-of-network physician or other health care provider less than the amount the physician charges for the care. Because the physician and the health plan have not agreed upon payment through a contract, the physician bills the patient for the remainder of the costs.
For Example: When a provider bills you for the difference between the providerโs charge and the allowed amount. For example, if the providerโs charge is $100 and the allowed amount is $70, the provider may bill you for the remaining $30.
In your case, you are protected by these federal regulations along with your PRC referral from this balance billing practice.
We are aware of the ongoing situation and are working diligently to get this issue resolved.
If you have a current or previous PRC referral to Trinity and receive any bills from Trinity Medical Group, please continue to turn them in to our PRC office right away. We will review them and ensure they are handled appropriately.
Our priority is to protect our patients and make sure you receive care from providers who follow federal law.
๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. You can utilize our website contact form at https://www.elbowoodshealth.com/for-patients/patient-referred-care/contact/ or call our department at 701-627-7368.
Elbowoods Memorial Health Center Purchased and Referred Care Team
