As a patient registers, the clerk will obtain insurance information from the patient.  If the insurance company has prior authorization requirements, the registration staff will work with the physician and patient to help obtain prior authorization.  It is the patient’s responsibility to make sure that the prior authorization requirements are met prior to receiving care.  After the patient is discharged, the billing staff will bill both primary and secondary insurances.  If there is any remaining balance after the insurance pays, the billing services will notify the patient of their portion.  ECRMC participates as a network hospital for many insurance plans.  These contracts change and patients should be in communication with their health plans to understand what their financial obligation will be.

As of July 2003, ECRMC contracts with the following plans: Admar; Affordable Healthcare; Beech Street; Benefit Panel Services; Blue Cross; Blue Shield; CAPP Care; Cigna; Continental Assurance Company; Community Care Network; Comp Alliance; Competitive Health Plan; Foundation Health; Health Net; Interplan; Multiplan; National Health; Pacific Foundation; Pacificare; PPO Alliance; Principal; Private Healthcare Systems; Prudential; Qual Med; San Diego Foundation; United Payers; United Providers