MHA’s Consumer Guide for Hospital Care

A hospital stay can be a very stressful time, especially if you are unclear on where to go, what it will cost and what to expect. MHA wants your health care experience to be a stress-free as possible. Below are useful links and documents that will be beneficial to you when looking for health care and paying for your care.

Here are MHA’s helpful Tips for getting and staying healthy (pdf) and Taking responsibility for your health.

• Support our Members! Where to obtain care will provide you either a list (pdf) of acute care facilities by city in Montana, well as a map of Montana to locate care. This listing will provide you with contact information to get a hold of the facility directly or a web link where available. If you need a complete listing to locate a facility in Montana, click here.

• Hospital Compare is a web site that will allow you to compare your local hospital to another to help you determine which facility is right for you.

• Comparing Charges at Montana Hospitals will provide you an overview of the price range for various procedures and hospital stays commonly seen in Montana, such as what it costs to have a baby (with or with out complications). MHA provides a price range due to individual’s health status. To determine a more accurate amount contact your hospital and speak with a representative along with your doctor to find out just what a hospital stay or procedure will cost you.

• The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) offers consumers The Patient Friendly Billing® project. This web site helps consumers understand their medical bills and also provides health care facilities tools to streamline their billing practices.

• The Patient Care Partnership - Understanding Expectations, Rights and Responsibilities

• If you are interested in learning more about the hospital payment system through Medicare, the Acute Inpatient Prospective Payment System (pdf) document outlines how hospitals are paid for Medicare patients.

• Tips for a Safer Surgery (pdf) was written by the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP), a National Quality Partnership and gives you questions to ask your doctor before a surgery along with other helpful related links.

• Glossary of Common Terms.