Under District of Columbia law, MedStar Washington Hospital Center has an important obligation to make its services available to all people in the community. MedStar Washington Hospital Center does not discriminate against a patient for services because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, sexual preference, gender identity, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, physical handicap, source of income, place of residence or business, or because a patient or applicant for services is covered by a program such as Medicare or Medicaid. The Hospital Center is also obligated to provide a reasonable volume of services without charge or at a reduced charge to persons unable to pay.
If you believe that you have been improperly denied services, contact the hospital's Admissions Department or Business Office, or call the District State Health Planning and Development Agency at 202-442-5875.
Access to Care
In cooperation with the District of Columbia and federal governments, this facility makes its services available to all people in the community.
This facility does not discriminate against a patient because of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, matriculation, political affiliation, physical handicap, source of income, place of residence or business, or because a patient is covered by a program such as Medicare or Medicaid.
This facility also provides a reasonable volume of services without charge or at a reduced charge to persons unable to pay. If your yearly gross family income does not exceed the amounts shown in the table below, you probably qualify for assistance.
|
Family Size* |
Scale Income** |
|
1 |
$8,240 |
|
2 |
$11,060 |
|
3 |
$13,880 |
|
4 |
$16,700 |
|
5 |
$19,520 |
|
6 |
$22,340 |
|
7 |
$25,160 |
|
8 |
$27,980 |
*Add $2,820 for each additional family member beyond eight. **Based on "The 1999 HHS Poverty Guidelines." These guidelines change periodically.
Aviso Publico del MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Quién Recibe Atención Médica
En cooperación con el gobierno del Distrito de Columbia y los gobiernos federales, este hospital pone sus servicios a disposición de toda la comunidad. Este hospital no discrimina en contra de un paciente debido a su raza, color, religión, nacionalidad, sexo, edad, estado civil, matriculación, afiliación política, impedimentos físicos, fuentes de ingresos, lugar de residencia o negocio, o porque un paciente esté amparado por un programa como Medicare o Medicaid. Este hospital también ofrece una cantidad apreciable de servicios en forma gratuita o a precio reducido, para las personas que no pueden pagar.
Usted califica para recibir asistencia, si su ingreso total anual familiar no excede las siguientes cifras:
|
Número de Miembros en la Familia* |
Ingreso Familiar Anual** |
|
1 |
$8,240 |
|
2 |
$11,060 |
|
3 |
$13,880 |
|
4 |
$16,700 |
|
5 |
$19,520 |
|
6 |
$22,340 |
|
7 |
$25,160 |
|
8 |
$27,980 |
*Añadir $2,820 por cada persona adicional si la familia tiene más de ocho miembros **Basado en "Las Guías de Consulta 1999 de la Pobreza de HHS." Estas guías de consulta cambian periódicamente.
Usted puede solicitar un formulario de asistencia en la oficina de Servicios Financieros del Paciente.
Llamar al teléfono 202-877-7174 (marque 1-4-1) para hablar con un consejero financiero. Se determinara si usted es elegible al cabo de dos días hábiles, después de que usted presente su formulario debidamente lleno.
Si usted cree que se le han negado servicios indebidamente, por favor póngase en contacto con la directora de la Oficina de Registro de Pacientes del MedStar Washington Hospital Center al teléfono 202-877-6107, o llame al District of Columbia State Health Planning and Development Agency al teléfono 202-727-0744.
Community health
Partnering with our communities to improve health Community Health is dedicated to improving the health of our communities through partnerships, and the delivery of accessible care, evidence-based education and wellness services. Classes and services are designed to provide information and resources for informed health decisions.
Community Health Publications
MedStar Washington Hospital Center releases a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) every three years, along with an annual Report to the Community.
Community Health Programs
MedStar Washington Hospital Center works with several partners to address the health of community members and bring resources to those in need. Community Health provides several programs to address identified health priorities, including management of chronic disease.
Have further questions? Please contact WHCCommunityHealth@medstar.net.
Community Health Needs Assessment
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is proud to release its FY19 – FY21 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and implementation strategy. The CHNA uses a community-driven approach that supports the hospital in planning and carrying out community-based programming to more effectively handle the health needs of underserved and vulnerable populations. The three-year plan details the hospital’s community benefit service areas, the identified health priorities and programs with measurable outcomes.
Report to the Community
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is committed to promoting the good health of residents of our communities, especially those who face barriers to accessing quality health care. Our professionals work to improve the health of our communities in numerous ways that include: hosting free screenings and providing related educational information, facilitating support groups, educating the community on important health topics, partnering with local schools to provide education for pregnant and/or parenting teens, among other programs. Check out some of our community health and outreach highlights below.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s 340B program
About the 340B Drug Pricing Program
The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a federal program that allows eligible hospitals, health centers, and clinics serving low-income and rural communities to purchase outpatient medications at significant, federally mandated discounts. Established by Congress in 1992, the program helps providers stretch limited resources and reinvest savings to improve access to care, support community health services, and address social factors that affect the health and well-being of underserved patients in the communities they serve.
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340B Defined
The 340B Drug Pricing program is a bi-partisan program created by Congress in 1992. As defined by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration:
“The 340B Program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.
Manufacturers participating in Medicaid agree to provide outpatient drugs to covered entities at significantly reduced prices.[These savings are inherently not funded through taxpayer dollars, they are supported through required reduced pricing from drug manufacturers.]
Eligible healthcare organizations/covered entities are defined in statute and include HRSA-supported health centers and look-alikes, Ryan White clinics and State AIDS Drug Assistance programs, Medicare/Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals, children’s hospitals, and other safety net providers.
To participate in the 340B Program, eligible organizations/covered entities must register and be enrolled with the 340B program and comply with all 340B Program requirements. Once enrolled, covered entities are assigned a 340B identification number that vendors verify before allowing an organization to purchase 340B discounted drugs”.
Source: HRSA.gov/OPA
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Why It Matters
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is eligible for this essential and critical program and is registered and enrolled with the 340B Program which allows us to stretch our resources and continue to provide services to our communities. By purchasing outpatient medications at reduced prices through the 340B Program, MedStar Washington Hospital Center can reinvest those savings into programs and services that improve health and well-being across our communities.
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Supporting our Mission
The savings from MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s eligibility for 340B specifically supports our mission and allows us to advance programs and services that directly benefit the community. Although savings from the program are only a small fraction of our total community benefit, they are very meaningful. MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s savings through the 340B Program totaled $56.71 million in 2025, which is significantly less than the organization’s overall Community Benefit investment of $197.6 million during the same period. MedStar Washington Hospital Center has consistently allocated resources to programs and community support initiatives that far exceed the savings realized through the 340B Program.
-
340B Program Savings Making an Impact
At MedStar Washinton Hospital Center Hospital, 340B savings make a real difference and directly impacts our ability to provide services in our community. The 340B program allows us to support access to health care services, improve health and wellness and impact social determinants of health to patients in communities.
They help us provide:
- Affordable medications through retail and charitable pharmacies
- Medication management clinics and patient assistance programs
- Primary and cancer care
- Behavioral health services
- Preventive care initiatives
Access to Care and Coordination of Care for Vulnerable Populations
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is committed to ensuring our patients are able to safely and seamlessly return to their community of care upon leaving the hospital. MedStar Washington Hospital Center has programs available to help those who may be more vulnerable due to their medical complexity, social situation, or lack of means to access needed services or medicines.
- The Connected Transitional Care Program at MedStar Health is a patient centered telehealth program for high-risk patients who are discharged to their homes. A Transitional Care Nurse Practitioner connects via telehealth to support patient follow-up care, answer their questions, and promote a safe transition to home. The program uses phone and video visits to connect with patients in the community to assess patients’ condition and answer questions in real time.
- Pharmacy Access & Affordability Assistance
In order to improve access and affordability of prescribed medications, our hospital provides discharge medications delivered to the bedside for eligible patients as a free service. This service eliminates barriers to access such as transportation and pharmacy availability, educates patients to take prescribed medications as instructed, and ensures affordability of the plan of care in direct consultation with the patient prior to their discharge. Those who do have affordability concerns despite pharmacy consultation can benefit from Prescription Assistance Funding program which helps provide financial assistance to those in need. - MedStar House Call Program
The MedStar House Call Program – MedStar Total Elder Care is nationally recognized for the quality and outcomes of its care. The program serves patients in their homes through an interdisciplinary team that includes geriatricians, nurse practitioners, social workers, office nurses, and care coordinators. It provides both routine and urgent house calls, offered in person or via telehealth through video or audio-only visits. Medical staff are available by phone 24/7 to address urgent issues. Patients also have access to state-of-the-art hospital and specialty care, and the physician team continues to follow patients if and when they are admitted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Addressing Social Needs of Our Patients and Communities
MedStar Washington Hospital Center provides screening to all our admitted patients for social needs impacting their health using our Social Needs Tool, and those who are identified as having needs for assistance are connected to numerous programs and partnerships to address the social needs of patients and community members. This includes access to our online directory of community social needs and resources, free or low-cost services encompassing assistance with medical care, healthy food, transportation, legal, utilities, and more.
- Transportation Assistance
In addition to taxi and bus fare assistance, MedStar Washington Hospital Center provides a convenient rideshare program in partnership with Uber, giving a reliable means of transportation for vulnerable patients to medical appointments and health education activities. This service is coordinated by hospital staff and provided at no cost to the patient. - Healthy Food Assistance
Harvest RX is a partnership between Hungry Harvest and MedStar Health. Through the program, patients that are identified as food insecure can qualify for up to 8 weeks of fresh produce and grains delivered to their home. This service is coordinated by Community Health Advocates and has no cost for patients.
Health & Wellness
MedStar Washington Hospital Center delivers evidence-based, outcome-focused chronic disease management and prevention programs and services in its Community Benefit Service Area (CBSA).
- Free Nasal Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Kits
Nasal naloxone kits and fentanyl test kits are distributed to at-risk patients and staff to reverse opioid overdoses quickly, saving lives without requiring medical intervention. - Fitness, Health & Wellness Programs
Community-based activities that promote physical activity, nutrition, stress management, and chronic disease prevention are available to our community members on a regular basis free of charge. These programs focus on improving overall health outcomes and reducing long-term health issues. MedStar Washington Hospital Center offers - In person and online wellness programs include Ask a Healthcare Professional workshops and Facebook Live sessions focused on chronic disease prevention and management.
- Support groups on topics ranging from weight loss, low vision and hemorrhagic stroke
- Community-Wide Health & Wellness Events
Hospital-led community events such as health fairs, screening days, or awareness campaigns are part of a year-round calendar of offerings that increase access to health information, preventive services, and trusted clinical resources in community settings. - Maternal Wellness, Childbirth & Parenting Education Classes
Classes are available at our hospital to support expectant and new parents with evidence-based education on pregnancy, childbirth, infant care, and parenting, contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes.
Without the 340B program, sustaining these vital services would be a challenge—and many patients in our communities would lose access to the care they need.
Our commitment is simple: use every dollar saved through the 340B Program to improve health, expand access, and strengthen the communities we serve.