Good Faith Estimate

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Instructions

Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, health care providers and health care facilities are required to provide a good faith estimate of expected charges for items and services to individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program, or not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage both orally and in writing, upon request or at the time of scheduling health care items and services. This form may be used by the health care providers to inform individuals who are not enrolled in a plan or coverage or a Federal health care program (uninsured individuals), or individuals who are enrolled but not seeking to file a claim with their plan or coverage (self-pay individuals) of the expected charges they may be billed for receiving certain health care items and services. A good faith estimate must be provided within 3 business days upon request. Information regarding scheduled items and services must be furnished within 1 business day of scheduling an item or service to be provided in 3 business days; and within 3 business days of scheduling an item or service to be provided in at least 10 business days. To use this model notice, the provider or facility must fill in the blanks with the appropriate information. HHS considers use of the model notice to be good faith compliance with the good faith estimate requirements to inform an individual of expected charges. Use of this model notice is not required and is provided as a means of facilitating compliance with the applicable notice requirements. However, some form of notice, including the provision of certain required information, is necessary to begin the patient-provider dispute resolution process.

NOTE: The information provided in these instructions is intended only to be a general informal summary of technical legal standards. It is not intended to take the place of the statutes, regulations, or formal policy guidance upon which it is based. Readers should refer to the applicable statutes, regulations, and other interpretive materials for complete and current information. [Link to IFR when available.]Health care providers and facilities should not include these instructions with the documents given to patients. Paperwork Reduction Act Statement According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0938-XXXX. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1.3 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or OMB Control Number [XXXX-XXXX] Expiration Date [MM/DD/YYYY] suggestions for improving this form, please write to: CMS, 7500 Security Boulevard, Attn: PRA Reports Clearance Officer, Mail Stop C4-26-05, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850.

Disclaimer

This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of items and services that are reasonably expected for your health care needs for an item or service. The estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate was created. The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill. If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill. You may contact the health care provider or facility listed to let them know the billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can ask them to update the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available. You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill. There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount. To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1 (877) 696-6775. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1 (877) 696-6775.