• Uninsured and underinsured people who need emergency or medically necessary treatment and have a household income between 200% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).
• When determining patients’ eligibility, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System does not consider race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or social or immigrant status.
• Eligible patients must submit a completed financial assistance application within 240 days (including all documentation required by the application) after ARHS provides the first post-discharge billing statement for the care.  You may have to meet with hospital Patient Financial Advocates before receiving financial assistance.

Learn more or apply for financial assistance >

• Financial assistance is provided only when care is considered medically necessary and after patients have met all eligibility requirements.
• Emergency or urgent care, services considered medically necessary by Appalachian Regional Healthcare System.

Click here to see what types of discounts you may qualify for >

• Appalachian Regional Healthcare System
• Watauga Medical Center
• Cannon Memorial Hospital
• Appalachian Regional Medical Associates Providers
• Wake Forest Emergency Room Physicians

To receive an itemized statement with detailed charges about the services provided, call our Customer Service department at (828) 262-4111, contact us online, or send a written request to billing@apprhs.org.

If you wish to dispute charges or make sure that charges and patient balances are accurate, you may request a review. Call our Customer Service Department at (828) 262-4111, contact us online, or send a written request to billing@apprhs.org

If a review of the charges and balances on your bill are determined to be correct, you may still appeal this decision by sending a written request to 155 Furman Road, Suite 101, Boone, NC 28607 to attention of Appeals.

After your health insurance company has paid its portion of your visit, we will send you a monthly statement(s) for the amount that you owe.

• We will contact you at least three times (via billing statements and/or phone calls) during a 120 day period to remind you of your balance. During this period, you will be expected to pay your balance in full, set up a payment plan or apply for financial assistance.
• If the balance is unpaid after the 120 day billing period, your account will be sent to a collection agency. If the balance is not paid or set up on a payment plan within 60 days of collection agency placement, your credit score may be impacted.

You will receive three billing statements for unpaid bills. After the third billing statement, if you do not pay the amount you owe in full, apply for financial assistance or set up a payment plan the third billing statement will include a 30 day collection notice. If the balance remains unpaid after the 30 day period, your account will be sent to an outside collection agency.

Learn about all the ways we can help you pay your bill >

If you were recently covered by insurance under a group health plan, you may be eligible to pick up those benefits to assist you with your medical bills. Our Patient Financial Advocates can assist you in determining if you might qualify for COBRA benefits.

If services you are requesting are the result of a work related injury, ARHS will bill your employer or your employer’s liability carrier. 

If you are covered by an HMO managed care plan, your insurance may restrict where you receive care. If you have services outside of your network, you will be responsible for your charges. Check with your insurance company to ensure your provider is in network.

Medicare requires that all tests have supporting diagnosis to demonstrate the test is medically necessary. If your physician orders a procedure or service that does not support medical necessity, you will be asked to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN).

The ABN informs you in advance that Medicare is not likely to pay for the procedure or service, and that you will be responsible for payment. By signing the ABN, you are indicating that you understand and are willing to continue with the procedure.

You will then receive a bill for payment of the service provided. You have the option of agreeing to be financially responsible for the procedure by signing the ABN or refusing the tests or services. If you refuse the test or service, you will be asked to sign a form indicating that you have elected not to have the service. If you request the service and will not sign the ABN, you will still be responsible for payment.

Federal and State laws require all hospitals to seek full payment. If your account becomes past due, ARHS will take appropriate action to recover the amount due. We do have many ways to help you pay your bill on time. Click here to see all the ways we can help you >

If there is a problem with your account, contact the Customer Service Center at (828) 262-4111 to discuss a workable solution. If you do not pay your bill or contact us for financial assistance, ARHS may refer your account to a collection agency.