While Powell Valley Healthcare is having a good financial year overall, there’s been an increasing amount of patient bills going unpaid.

Bad debt at PVHC totaled $371,941 in February, for a fiscal year-to-date total of $2.5 million. That’s well above the $1.3 million worth of bad debt that PVHC had expected at this point in the fiscal year. 

Still, the healthcare organization remains in the black for 2020-21. Its total profit since July 1 stands at $1.12 million, whereas it budgeted $249,166.

The hospital did post a loss of $184,529 last month, but “February is not a stellar month for us historically,” CFO Joy Coulston said at Monday’s PVHC board of directors meeting.

Coulston said the organization does not know what’s causing the rise in people not paying their hospital bills, but she said none of it is related to treating patients with COVID-19. 

In February of fiscal year 2020, the hospital had just under $151,000 in bad debt for the month, with a year-to-date total of $1.2 million — about $375,000 under budget. In February of fiscal year 2019, the hospital was $350,000 under budget for bad debt. 

Coulston speculated that, while the debt wasn’t related to hospital charges for the care of COVID patients, it may be related to financial hardships stemming from the impact of the pandemic. They are seeing an increase in people self-paying, meaning they don’t have any insurance.

“I think people have lost jobs or maybe lost income in their household,” Coulston said. 

Speaking after the meeting, Coulston pointed out the Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurance has discounts and the enrollment period has been extended. This “can provide options for health insurance,” Coulston said. 

PVHC also has a financial assistance program to help those who are having trouble paying their bills and reside in the hospital’s service area of Park and Big Horn counties. The program is based on federal poverty guidelines and provides adjustments to charges based on ability to pay. 

The hospital also offers Care Credit, which is a credit card for health and wellness. The application process is easy, said Coulston, and offers interest-free financing for the first 12 months when it is used for balances at PVHC. 

Coulston encouraged people who have trouble paying a PVHC bill to contact the PVHC patient financial counselor who can help them identify options. 

“We recognize each of our patient’s situations are unique,” she said, “and we try to assist with an option that will work for both of us.”