In an unprecedented move that will warm the hearts of everyone, Orlando Health and Florida Hospital announced that they will not bill the survivors of the Orlando nightclub shooting. As a result, survivors will not have to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses for their related care after the massacre, and these hospitals will be writing off a reported $5.5 million in care.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Orlando Regional Medical Center, the Orlando Health facility that treated 44 of the victims who were in need of immediate medical attention, will shoulder most of the bill. The families of the nine patients who died at the hospital will not be charged as well. Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong said that organizations have reached out to help the victims and their families:
“The Pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families and our entire community. During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward.”
While Orlando Health will be billing patients’ insurance providers and eschewing the out-of-cost portions of payment, Florida Hospital will go even further. The facility won’t even bill the victims’ insurance providers, and they don’t expect out-of-pocket payments either. This is a sigh of relief for survivors, including the uninsured Mario Lopez, who was worried whether he could afford his bills:
“I was so worried because I can’t afford any of that. I just went out for a fun night with friends. No one expected this to happen. My life was turned upside down, and then I had to worry about how I was going to pay back the hospital.”
Orlando Health said they would also work with victims for follow-up procedures, and they’re hoping to do as much as possible within their charity guidelines and capabilities.
(Via Orlando Sentinel)