Eastern Plumas Hospital - Portola Campus
Critical access hospital in Portola, CA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy
Eastern Plumas Hospital - Portola Campus likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $31,920 for 1 person, $43,280 for 2, $54,640 for 3, $66,000 for 4, $77,360 for 5 or $88,720 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for 2, $109,280 for 3, $132,000 for 4, $154,720 for 5 or $177,440 for 6.
The hospital makes the final decision.
| People in household | Free care up to | Discount up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $177,440 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 200% of poverty level, you pay $0 (full charity); the table says below 200%
- 200% to 400% of poverty level, you pay Medicare or Medi-Cal rate, whichever is higher
- 401% to % of poverty level, you pay no discount
How to apply
- Call (530) 832-6500 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- Eastern Plumas Health Care Financial Assistance Policy (effective 5/12/2025; on file with HCAI 03/24/2026)
- Bring federal income tax return (Form 1040) or recent pay stubs.
- We do not have the deadline yet. Apply as soon as you get a bill, and ask the billing office to pause collections while you apply.
If you have insurance
Insured patients can also apply for help with deductibles and copays. Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.
What is covered
- Covered
- Health care services at Eastern Plumas Health Care, including doctors who work there and emergency room doctors.
- Not covered
- Care that is not medically necessary, and purchases at the gift shop or cafeteria.
State program in California
Hospital Fair Pricing Act (Health and Safety Code 127400 et seq.)
Every licensed general acute care, acute psychiatric, and special hospital in California must have a charity care policy and a discount payment policy. A patient can ask for help if they are uninsured (self-pay) or have high medical costs, and their family income is not more than 400% of the federal poverty level. Hospitals may choose to help people with higher incomes. With a discount, the bill is capped at about what Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater. You can apply at any time, even after a bill goes to collections. Immigration status does not affect eligibility.
Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.
Applies to each licensed general acute care hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, and special hospital in California.
Apply to the hospital's financial assistance office. Each hospital's policies and applications are posted on its website and on HCAI's Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Lookup (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-fair-pricing-policy-lookup/).
Is a self-pay patient OR a patient with high medical costs; AND Patient's family income is not more than 400 percent of the federal poverty
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Hospital Bill Complaint Program (HCAI)
A free state program at HCAI. If a hospital wrongly denied you financial assistance, did not tell you about its programs, or sent you to collections the wrong way, you can file a complaint online (English and Spanish) or by mail (many languages). You must have applied to the hospital first for HCAI to review an eligibility decision. If HCAI finds you paid too much, the hospital must refund you within 30 days. It covers problems on or after January 1, 2022. It does not handle general billing disputes, price transparency, Good Faith Estimates, or bills from emergency room doctors.
Applies to complaints about any hospital covered by the Hospital Fair Pricing Act.
File online through the Patient Complaint Portal (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/should-i-file-a-complaint/) or mail the Patient Complaint Form to Department of Health Care Access and Information, Hospital Bill Complaint Program, 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 1101, Sacramento, CA 95833.
If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program.
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Emergency physician discount rule
Most hospital policies cover only the hospital's own bill. Emergency room doctors often bill separately. California law also requires an emergency physician to give discounts to uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs whose family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Ask the doctor group's billing office for its discount policy. HCAI's complaint program does not handle emergency doctor bills.
Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.
Applies to emergency physicians who provide emergency medical services in a California hospital that provides emergency care.
Ask the emergency physician group named on the bill for its discount payment policy.
an emergency physician who provides emergency medical services in a hospital that provides emergency care is also required by law to provide discounted care
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Notes
Free care below 200% of the poverty level. From 200% to 400% you pay no more than the Medicare or Medi-Cal rate, whichever is higher. Above 400% there is no discount. Insured patients with high medical costs get the same levels. Help covers doctors who work at the hospital, including emergency room doctors. Medi-Cal patients owe nothing beyond their share of cost. You can apply in writing or out loud with staff help, by mail or in person. Bills that come after approval need a new application. Appeals go in writing to Patient Financial Services within 30 days of the decision letter. The office is at 500 First Ave, Portola, open Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. The policy does not say whether savings are counted, and it does not set a deadline.
Sources
- Free care level
Below 200% of the Federal Zero (Full Charity) Zero (Full Charity)
- Discount level
who have a household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Discount steps
200% to 400% of the Federal Medicare or Medi-Cal Rate
- Insured patients
Financial assistance is available to uninsured or underinsured individuals experiencing high medical expenses or costs
- What is not covered
such as care that is not Medically Necessary or purchases from EPHC's retail operations, such as gift shops and cafeteria.
- Documents
Recent pay stubs from within the 6 months before or after the patient is first billed
- Financial counseling phone
500 First Ave Portola, CA, 96122 or by calling 530-832-6500.
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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