# Northern Inyo Hospital

Hospital in Bishop, CA. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

Northern Inyo Hospital likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $15,960 for 1 person, $21,640 for 2, $27,320 for 3, $33,000 for 4, $38,680 for 5 or $44,360 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for 2, $109,280 for 3, $132,000 for 4, $154,720 for 5 or $177,440 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $177,440 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 100% of poverty level, patient pays $0
- 101% to 200% of poverty level, patient pays 10% of charges (90% discount)
- 201% to 250% of poverty level, patient pays 20% of charges (80% discount)
- 251% to 300% of poverty level, patient pays 30% of charges (70% discount)
- 301% to 350% of poverty level, patient pays 40% of charges (60% discount)
- 351% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays 45% of charges (55% discount)

## How to apply

- Call (760) 873-2097 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=cc091212-fbe5-4014-a50b-6041e10c8f2f)
- [Financial Assistance and Charity Care Policy (last reviewed 06/18/2025, HCAI effective date 10/21/2025)](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=35d51d05-9dcf-44aa-b7a1-ede541419f6b)
- We do not have the deadline yet. Apply as soon as you get a bill, and ask the billing office to pause collections while you apply.
- Bring prior year income tax return (preferred) or recent pay stubs, unemployment or disability payment stubs (for full charity care), a letter explaining how you support yourself if you have no income.
- Very large bills. Uninsured patients pay no more than 30% of family income for covered services. Insured patients under 400% of the poverty level with high medical costs (over 10% of family income) can have the bill written off in full.
- Languages. English, Spanish

## If you have insurance

Insured patients can also apply for help with deductibles and copays.
Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.

## What is covered

Covered. Medically necessary hospital inpatient and outpatient services at Northern Inyo Healthcare District.

Not covered. Elective services that need prior approval (such as experimental, transplant, or cosmetic care) are left out unless the hospital makes an exception, and exceptions are only for Inyo County residents.

## State program in California

### Hospital Fair Pricing Act (Health and Safety Code 127400 et seq.)

Every licensed general acute care, acute psychiatric, and special hospital in California must have a charity care policy and a discount payment policy. A patient can ask for help if they are uninsured (self-pay) or have high medical costs, and their family income is not more than 400% of the federal poverty level. Hospitals may choose to help people with higher incomes. With a discount, the bill is capped at about what Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater. You can apply at any time, even after a bill goes to collections. Immigration status does not affect eligibility.

Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.

Applies to each licensed general acute care hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, and special hospital in California.

How to apply. Apply to the hospital's financial assistance office. Each hospital's policies and applications are posted on its website and on HCAI's Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Lookup (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-fair-pricing-policy-lookup/).

> Is a self-pay patient OR a patient with high medical costs; AND Patient's family income is not more than 400 percent of the federal poverty

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/frequently-asked-questions/, checked 2026-11-10

### Hospital Bill Complaint Program (HCAI)

A free state program at HCAI. If a hospital wrongly denied you financial assistance, did not tell you about its programs, or sent you to collections the wrong way, you can file a complaint online (English and Spanish) or by mail (many languages). You must have applied to the hospital first for HCAI to review an eligibility decision. If HCAI finds you paid too much, the hospital must refund you within 30 days. It covers problems on or after January 1, 2022. It does not handle general billing disputes, price transparency, Good Faith Estimates, or bills from emergency room doctors.

Applies to complaints about any hospital covered by the Hospital Fair Pricing Act.

How to apply. File online through the Patient Complaint Portal (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/should-i-file-a-complaint/) or mail the Patient Complaint Form to Department of Health Care Access and Information, Hospital Bill Complaint Program, 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 1101, Sacramento, CA 95833.

> If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program.

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/, checked 2026-11-10

### Emergency physician discount rule

Most hospital policies cover only the hospital's own bill. Emergency room doctors often bill separately. California law also requires an emergency physician to give discounts to uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs whose family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Ask the doctor group's billing office for its discount policy. HCAI's complaint program does not handle emergency doctor bills.

Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.

Applies to emergency physicians who provide emergency medical services in a California hospital that provides emergency care.

How to apply. Ask the emergency physician group named on the bill for its discount payment policy.

> an emergency physician who provides emergency medical services in a hospital that provides emergency care is also required by law to provide discounted care

Source https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c7bdd7eb-bcc0-4a84-bcab-a21b5e578d9c, checked 2026-11-10

## Notes

Free care at or below 100% of the poverty level. From 101% to 400%, the hospital takes 55% to 90% off the bill, with a bigger discount at lower incomes. The policy text says 40% to 90%, but its own income table and the application list 55% as the smallest discount. Uninsured patients get 30% off even without applying. If you get full charity care, you must also apply for Medi-Cal or other public coverage. You do not have to apply for public coverage to get a discount. Disputes go to the Chief Financial Officer within 30 days. The newest copy on file with the state is the Spanish translation. Quotes come from the English copy of the same revision, filed with the state in July 2025. The policy does not say whether savings or property count.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > Full Charity Care is available to patients whose Family Incomes are at or below 100% of the most recent Federal Poverty Income guidelines.
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > Incomes are between 101% and 400% of the most recent Family Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=cc091212-fbe5-4014-a50b-6041e10c8f2f
  > apply for charity care (100% discount) and financial assistance (90%- 55% discount).
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > This discount is available to insured patients who meet the following criteria:
- Very large bills https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > will receive a complete write-off of their undiscounted charges for Covered Services that exceed 30% of their Family Income.
- What is not covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > Exceptions will only be considered for Inyo County residents.
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > eligibility are Income tax returns (preferred) or paycheck stubs, or for complete 100% charity care, unemployment/disability payment stubs.
- Languages https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > English and Spanish translations are
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=e20b77b0-868e-4180-a1bc-afd72a942887
  > Calling (760) 873-2097
- Policy on file with state https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=35d51d05-9dcf-44aa-b7a1-ede541419f6b
  > Fecha de la última revisión: 18/06/2025

Last checked 2026-11-10.

HTML page https://hospitalaid.org/hospitals/northern-inyo-hospital-bishop-ca/
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