The physician in charge of your care will work with you, your nurse and your case manager to plan for your discharge from the hospital. The day of discharge can be busy. The following questions may help you prepare:

• Who will pick me up from the hospital?
• Who will retrieve my belongings stored in the hospital safe? 
• What will I wear when I am discharged?
• How will I get my prescriptions filled?
• Do I have questions about my medicines or care at home?
• Do I need special equipment?
• Would I benefit from home care or rehabilitative services?
• When will I see my doctor for follow up?

We will work closely with our home health department, Kohala Home Health Care, as well as local rehabilitation, skilled nursing, home health and hospice providers, to make sure you receive the follow-up care that is best for you, if necessary. A case manager can help you and your family make any necessary arrangements.

Your Hospital Bill

Our Patient Financial Services Department is here to assist you and your family with any questions pertaining to your hospital bill. If you have questions about your hospital bill after you have been discharged, please contact an NHCH Patient Financial Representative at 808-881-4610 or NHCH-patientbilling@queens.org.

General Billing Guidelines

If you do not have insurance or your insurance does not provide you with 100% coverage for health care services, you will receive a Statement of Account from North Hawaii Community Hospital for any unpaid balances. It may take a few weeks to six months for you to receive your statement depending on the response we receive from your insurance company.

You will receive a statement from North Hawaii Community Hospital when your physician uses laboratory services such as for blood work, biopsies, or other sample analysis. In addition to your hospital statement, you may a bill from a physician for professional fees associated with services, such as radiology, emergency physician services, pathology, or anesthesiology. Physicians in these specialties have staff privileges at North Hawaii Community Hospital but are not employed by the hospital and, therefore, bill separately.

Financial Assistance

An important part of our commitment to the community is to provide quality care to everyone who needs it. If you do not have health insurance and worry that you may not be able to pay in full for your care, we may be able to help. North Hawaii Community Hospital provides financial assistance to patients based on their income, assets and needs. In addition, we may be able to help you apply for governmental assistance or work with you to arrange a manageable payment plan.

Please be assured that your financial situation does not, in any way, impact the care that you receive during your hospital stay. For more information, please contact our Patient Financial Services Department by calling 808-881-4610.