A hospital's programme for reducing or writing off bills for patients who cannot afford them. Non-profit hospitals must offer one to keep their federal tax exemption.
Why this matters to you
Hospitals are required to have a written financial assistance policy but are not required to advertise it, and many eligible patients never apply because nobody mentions it. Eligibility often extends well above the poverty line — some programmes reach several times it. Ask for the financial assistance policy in writing before you agree to a payment plan, because a plan is debt and assistance is not.
Official source
The authoritative definition and current rules are published here:
Rules and figures change. Where this page and the official source disagree, the official source is correct — and we would like to know, so please tell us.