Financial Counseling Process

Due to the amount of Managed Care and HMO/PPO Insurance programs that require prior authorization and PCP referrals, Ashley County Medical Center now offers Financial Counseling as a free service to our patients. Many times there are coverage limitations of insurance plans, for example 15 physical therapy visits per year. It is the responsibility of the policy holder, as far as the Insurance Companies are concerned, to know and understand these limitations. However, very often, the patient isn't aware of these policies and limitations. Ashley County Medical Center is staffed and ready to do this for you "Our Patient". The terms co-pay, deductible, out of pocket maximum, or even stop loss can confuse even the most informed patient. In the ACMC Financial Counseling department, staff members are trained to find those limitations as well as any other special requirements, such as preauthorization of certain procedures and tests, and to help you, the patient, understand your benefits.

For years insurances have trended from paying claims, as the client would expect, to denying claims for specific procedures, tests and services. Did you pre-certify your outpatient surgery? Did you have a PCP referral for the specialist you are currently seeing? If you did not your insurance may pay only half of what they should or, worse, deny the entire service. Are you still responsible for the bill? YES. Our Financial Counselors strive to ensure this does not happen to our patients.

The second part to this approval and certification process is to assess the cost for which you, the patient, will be responsible. Whether your service is elective or necessary, we do not want our patients to be surprised when they receive their bill. We want our patients to be aware of their cost responsibilities before they receive a bill.

The ACMC Financial Counseling staff also understands that some patients may not be able to afford their health bills. Therefore we offer an uncompensated care program, which we screen for upon admission. We are also glad to make a Medicaid appointment or referral for you. We have a company that will do any or all paperwork for Medicaid or disability applicants for those who cannot read, do not speak English or simply need assistance with overwhelming amount of paperwork.

Once the approval process and co-payment amount has been completed, we then work out the payment plan with the patient. We will accept credit cards, postdated checks, and cash. If you have a good credit history with the hospital you are allowed to pay your account in a manner that satisfies your budget. If you do not have good credit history we attempt to collect 50% up-front on elective procedures and set up payment arrangements for the remainder of the bill. This is your chance to begin a good payment history with us again. We also offer affordable payment plans, discounts for early payments, and bank financing

ACMC as a small rural hospital provides over $500,000 annually in charity care. We take pride in treating our patients and providing them a service like no other rural hospital in the state. Most patients are happy to find that we are looking out for their best interests. We are striving to make this process better each and every day. Health Care is changing and things are done differently. Come see how we have changed to meet your future needs.

Billing Services

The business office at Ashley County Medical Center is staffed with well-trained personnel and ready to meet all your insurance needs. We accept most major HMO and PPO plans. Some of the accepted plans are:

" AMCO
" American Healthcare Providers
" American Life Care
" American PPO
" Blue Advantage
" Blue Cross
" First Health
" First Source
" Health Advantage
" Integrated Health Plan
" Medicaid
" Medicare
" Medipak
" Midwest Preferred Providers
" Municipal Health
" PPO Plus
" Private Healthcare Systems
" Qual Choice
" United Payors and Provider
" United Healthcare

If you participate in a plan that is not listed please call Wylma Martin, at 870-364-1292. We promise to review the provider process of your agency and will make every reasonable effort to become a participating provider.


Your experience with Ashley County Medical Center can be excellent but if your billing information is not correct initially it can be a real headache for you in the following days and/or weeks. We strive for excellence and, through new management, we feel we can offer you a billing service second-to-none. If you have not been to see us in a while we believe you will be pleasantly surprised by the changes we have made. We are waiting to assist you with any and all of your billing needs.

Business Office Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM. For account information, call 364-1250.