Hill-Burton Free and Reduced-Cost Health Care

https://www.hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/

800-638-0742 (800-492-0359 in Maryland)

Patients in need of care whose income must fall within the annually published Poverty Guidelines.

In 1946, Congress passed a law that gave hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities grants and loans for construction and modernization. In return, they agreed to provide a reasonable volume of services to persons unable to pay and to make their services available to all persons residing in the facility’s area. The program stopped providing funds in 1997, but about 170 health care facilities nationwide are still obligated to provide free or reduced-cost care. Since 1980, more than $6 billion in uncompensated services have been provided to eligible patients through Hill-Burton.

• Free and reduced-cost health care is available to people who cannot afford to pay at Hill-Burton obligated facilities
• Hill-Burton assisted facilities include hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities
• Hill-Burton facilities determine which services are provided free of charge or at reduced costs
• The program only covers facility costs; it does not cover private physician bills.