GMH deploying multiple collection strategies

by Jolene Toves

Guam - The Guam Memorial Hospital's flatlining finances are looking to be revived as management looks to be more assertive in collecting what is owed.  The island's only public hospital is stepping up its collection efforts, as administrator Joseph Verga they are deploying an array of initiatives to collect what is owed to his agency.

Currently, for example, GMH is offering a 50% discount program for patients to settle their outstanding bills. The program ends on June 24. "We've as you know have implemented our discount program and we are receiving bills that are being paid people are taking advantage of that program," he explained.

For those who ignore paying their hospital bill altogether, don't be surprised if you're tax refund isn't as much as you might be expecting because GMH will be garnishing tax refunds.

The hospital meanwhile now has the capability of issuing bills to patients as they are discharged. According to Verga, it not only offers patients to the opportunity to pay their bill up front, but also at a discounted price. "Going forward," he stated, "we have change things internally to be much more assertive in getting the bills paid for people who are just self-pay. The infrastructure of our financial department wasn't set up to offer bills on the spot."

And their efforts to collect don't end there. According to Verga, there are other initiatives they are exploring. "We are also going to be a lot more assertive garnishing wages, salaries and wages for people that do work after contacted them about working out a payment plan with us and you know folks that have not paid," he outlined.

Verga plans on presenting the results of the hospital's aggressive collection efforts at the next GMH board of directors meeting.