News & Media
Pricing Transparency
Click Here for PATIENT LIABILITY ESTIMATE
Weems Memorial Financial Policy
Weems Memorial HealthCare (WMH) is committed to meeting the health care needs of the community. As a not-for-profit system, WMH provides non-elective services to patients without regard to financial status or ability to pay. At the same time, WMH relies on income from patients to reinvest in clinical programs aimed at promoting the health of the community. We ask that you cooperate in meeting your financial obligation to WMH. However, if you anticipate any difficulty in paying your hospital bill, or if you would like to apply for financial assistance as outlined below, please contact
Patient Financial Services
Joanna Page
Financial Assistance Counselor
(850) 653-8853, Ext 118
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. – 4:30 pm
Before You Receive Services
Your physician will contact WMH to schedule services. Once services are scheduled, a Patient Account Representative will review your insurance information and confirm your benefits. They will also ensure any prior authorization requirements have been met. They will prepare an estimate of charges customized to your insurance plan and contact you to discuss your estimated out-of-pocket expenses. You have a right to request an estimate prior to services and to receive it within seven (7) business days of your request. In addition, you have a right to receive a revised estimate should your scheduled services be changed by your physician. Even if you do not have insurance, you may still request an estimate. Please contact a representative at (850) 653-8853 ext. 118 or ext. 123 if you have any questions regarding estimates.
Click Here for PATIENT LIABILITY ESTIMATE
CHARGEMASTER / BILLING ITEM LIST OCT24
You can also view and compare hospital prices for certain services on the Florida Hospital Association's Mission to Care website. Visit MissionToCare.org for more information.
Service Bundles
For information on service bundles, please visit FloridaHealthPriceFinder.com. Service bundles are non-personalized estimates of costs that may be incurred for hospital services, and include all components of care, such as physician, ancillary and hospital payments. Actual costs will be based on services actually provided and may be more or less than the estimates found on FloridaHealthPriceFinder.
Contracted Services
The following medical practice groups are contracted with Weems Hospital to provide services to our patients. Contact the providers listed below to obtain a personalized estimate or to learn about their billing practices and participation with your insurance provider or health maintenance organization (HMO), as the practitioners may not participate with the same health insurers or HMO as the hospital.
Southland Emergency Medical Services of FL (Physician Group)
R1-RCM
PO Box 734540
Chicago, IL 60673
Phone (800) 225-0953
What Types of Insurance Are Accepted?
Except for outpatient, non-emergent procedures, Weems Memorial Hospital will generally accept and file a claim for any type of insurance provided. If Weems is a participating provider, your insurance company will receive a discounted rate based on its contract with Weems. Any amount indicated as patient responsibility will be billed to you after insurance payment. If Weems is not contracted with your insurance company, you will be responsible for any amount not paid by your health insurance plan. In addition, you may receive services from independent providers, such as radiologists, pathologists, and other physicians. If so, you will receive a separate bill from those providers. You should contact your insurance company to determine if the independent providers are in your network.
In addition to commercial health insurance plans, Weems Memorial Hospital participates with Medicare, Medicaid, and other government sponsored programs. Regardless of the type of coverage, please be sure to provide an insurance card at registration. It is your responsibility to ensure we have accurate, current insurance information on file.
Please see a list below of health insurance plans that are contracted with Weems Memorial Hospital:
- Ambetter
- Capital Health Plan
- Children's Medical Services
- Cigna
- Florida Blue (BCBS)
- Humana
- MultiPlan
- Simply Health Care Plans
- Sunshine Health
- United Healthcare
- VA Community Care Network
- Wellcare
What If I Do Not Have Health Insurance?
George E Weems Memorial Hospital, Ambulance Service and Medical Centers serves all patients regardless of ability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered based on family size and income. If you do not have health insurance and need assistance with your financial obligation, please speak to an admission clerk or call the Financial Counselor at (850) 653-8853 ext. 118. You may qualify for financial aid based on your income. Approval is determined on a sliding scale methodology, based on the current year Federal Poverty Guideline as established in FAC 64F-16 (154.011(c)(1), 154.011(c)(7). If approved for assistance, the approval will be valid for 12 months. After 12 months, a new financial aid application will be required.
- Sliding Fee Discount Application & Policy 2024
- Solicitud y Politica de Descauento de Tarifa Variable 2024
What If I Do Not Pay My Bill?
Payment on accounts will be pursued consistently, regardless of race, language, gender, age, religion, education, employment or student status, disposition, relationship, insurance coverage, community standing, or any other discriminatory differentiating factor. Every guarantor will be given reasonable time and communication to be aware and understand their financial responsibility. The guarantor will be held financially responsible for services rendered. A statement of services will be sent to each patient/guarantor in incremental billing cycles. Billing representatives may attempt to contact the patient/guarantor via telephone, mail, letter, or email in order to pursue collections. All collection efforts will be documented on the account. An outside collection agency may be used in addition to or in lieu of subsequent billings, follow-up letters, telephone and personal contacts. The outside collection agencies may report the account to the Credit Reporting Bureau. Weems Memorial Hospital and any outside collection entities will follow the Fair Debt Collection Act during collection activities.
For patient billing questions, please contact Heather Huron, Revenue Cycle Manager at hhuron@weemsmemorial.com (850) 653-8853 ext. 123.
David Walker, CEO of George E. Weems Memorial Hospital, along with other North Florida hospital administrators, met this week with Florida Hospital Association (FHA) President and CEO Mary Mayhew to discuss regional health care priorities and the latest information on COVID-19 case trends and preparation for vaccine distribution.
According to FHA President Mayhew, the roundtable meeting served as an opportunity for health systems across the region to collaborate and share best practices on this area’s health care priorities – from access to care in rural communities to mental health and substance abuse prevention. “Hospital teams throughout this region are continuing to respond to the COVID-19 crisis while preparing for the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine and ensuring frontline workers and our most vulnerable are prioritized in the early days of its distribution,” Mayhew said.
In addition to Walker, the FHA roundtable included hospital administrators including Mark O’Bryant from Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare as well as hospital leaders from Panama City, Perry and Liberty and Calhoun counties.
“Meeting with all the regional hospital leaders allowed us to gain perspective on how our neighboring communities are weathering the challenges of medical care during this pandemic,” said Weems Memorial CEO David Walker. “I was pleased to learn that Weems is on par with other larger hospitals in terms of the quality care we provide and I feel we will be prepared to successfully launch the vaccine distribution in our community once it becomes available.”
Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) comprises over 200 hospitals and health systems from across the state. Through representation and advocacy, education and informational services, we support the mission of our members to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. The association is governed by a Board of Trustees and officers elected by the member institutions.
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital’s CEO David Walker has been named Florida’s Top 2020 Rural Health Leader from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH). According to the association, the 2020 Rural Health Community Star Recognition is a reflection on Walker’s and Weem’s commitment to providing quality healthcare in a rural setting – particularly during the nationwide COVID health crisis.
“You couldn’t have asked for better qualifications in a CEO during a pandemic.” said Bree Watzak, Director of Technical Assistance at the Center for Optimizing Rural Health. Watzak was one of two healthcare professionals that nominated Walker for the honor. Abbie Parmenter, with the Florida Department of Health, was the second professional to nominate Walker.
In the nomination, Watzak noted that Walker has handled Franklin County’s local rural healthcare needs during the COVID crisis admirably by purchasing a one-hour COVID-19 testing machine for Franklin County’s hospital and stepped into high gear to communicate resources and plans to the community, make testing available for health and school district employees.
Walker’s award announcement coincides with the 2020 National Rural Health Day (NRHD) – November 19, 2020 – an annual day of celebration that shines a light on those serving the vital health needs of an estimated 57 million people living in rural America. On the third Thursday of November every year, the NOSORH leads National Rural Health Day. Walker and Weems Memorial will appear in the 2020 edition of the book of Community Stars, published on the official NHRD website, powerofrural.org.
Reflecting on the honor, Walker said it’s all about listening and relationships. “You find the need through listening and you fill the need through cooperation. It’s all about building relationships, collaboration, partnerships and thinking out of the box,” Walker said. “We are more diverse than most might think, but the power is in our unity.”
You can read Walker’s Community
Star profile online at https://www.powerofrural.org/
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. If it’s not controlled, diabetes can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems.
One in 12 Americans has diabetes – that’s more than 25 million people. And another 79 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The good news? People who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk by more than half if they make healthy changes. These changes include: eating healthy, increasing physical activity, and losing weight.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. One in 12 Americans has diabetes – that’s more than 25 million people. And another 79 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, or are age 45 or older, you are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk.
Make an appointment at either the Weems Medical Center in Apalachicola or Carrabelle to learn your risk assessment for diabetes.