# Sierra View Medical Center

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

Sierra View Medical Center likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $31,920 for 1 person, $43,280 for 2, $54,640 for 3, $66,000 for 4, $77,360 for 5 or $88,720 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 | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $177,440 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 200% of poverty level, patient pays $0 (full write-off, insured, underinsured, or self-pay)
- 201% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays No more than what Medicare would pay

## How to apply

- Call (559) 788-6002 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4ba692fb-dedc-425d-8aee-3828532ed2fd)
- [Financial Assistance Policy: Full Charity Care and Discount Partial Care (effective January 1, 2025)](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8)
- 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 recent pay stubs, tax returns, or other income proof, a written statement of income if unemployed or without pay stubs.
- Very large bills. Insured patients with out-of-pocket costs at Sierra View over 10% of family income count as underinsured and can get help
- 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 inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services billed by Sierra View Medical Center. Experimental, elective, and other services that are not medically necessary are generally not covered.

Not covered. The policy covers only charges from Sierra View. Emergency doctors and other non-employed doctors bill separately and have their own discount rules.

## 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 200% of the poverty level, with or without insurance. From 201% to 400% you pay no more than Medicare would pay. If your insurance already paid more than that amount, you owe nothing more. People on CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI/SSP, WIC, a Medicare Savings Program, or general relief get free care if they show proof. Approval also covers care in the next six months. The policy gives no deadline to apply and does not say whether savings are counted. Financial Counselors are at (559) 788-6002 or (559) 788-6143, or financialcounseling@sierra-view.com. You can apply in person at 465 W. Putnam Ave, Porterville, CA 93257.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > shall be granted to those financially qualified patients whose family income is up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > Discounted Care will be granted to financially qualified patients earning between 201% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > For these patients, expected payment for services will be limited to the amount SVMC would have received from Medicare.
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > A full write-off of all balances due from a patient, whether the patient is insured, underinsured or self-pay
- Very large bills https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > Under-insured Patient are patients with high medical cost who have insurance or health coverage but have a remaining patient responsibility balance
- What is not covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > Financial assistant application only applies to charges or services provided by SVMC.
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > Acceptable income verification, such as recent payroll stubs, tax returns, or other items or verifications.
- Languages https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > The application will be available in English and Spanish
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=5308a8b9-8f6f-4da9-92c4-8983f1cb14e8
  > over the phone by calling Financial Counselors at (559) 788-6002 or (559) 788-6143

Last checked 2026-11-10.

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