# Modoc Medical Center

Hospital in Alturas, CA. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

Modoc Medical Center likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $15,960 for 1 person, $21,640 for 2, $27,320 for 3, $33,000 for 4, $38,680 for 5 or $44,360 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.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $177,440 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 100% of poverty level, patient pays $0
- 101% to 150% of poverty level, patient pays 20% of the bill (80% discount)
- 151% to 200% of poverty level, patient pays 40% of the bill (60% discount)
- 201% to 300% of poverty level, patient pays 60% of the bill (40% discount)
- 301% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays 80% of the bill (20% discount)

## How to apply

- Call (530) 708-8819 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3fc7382c-972b-4680-87c3-e03cdacac4f6)
- [Fair Pricing Policy (on file with HCAI 02/12/2026)](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4)
- 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.
- Bring recent pay stubs or income tax returns.
- Savings and property. The policy looks at income only, not savings or property.
- Languages. English, Spanish

## 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. Hospital inpatient and outpatient services, clinic visits, physical therapy, and other medically necessary services at Modoc Medical Center.

## 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.

How to apply. 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

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/frequently-asked-questions/, 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.

How to apply. 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.

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/, 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.

How to apply. 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

Source https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c7bdd7eb-bcc0-4a84-bcab-a21b5e578d9c, checked 2026-11-10

## Notes

Free care only below 100% of the poverty level. Above that you get a sliding discount, 80% off from 101% to 150%, then 60%, 40%, and 20% off up to 400%. Patients up to 400% never pay more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay. Clinic patients who get a discount pay at least $20 per visit. Insured patients with high medical costs can get the discount too. Discounts are based on income and family size only. You can be approved at any time once the hospital has your papers, and approval should be checked again at least once a year. A letter comes within five working days of getting your application. Disputes are reviewed by the Revenue Cycle Director or the Chief Operations Officer. The application cover letter asks you to return it with papers within 30 days. A complete application stays valid for 180 days. Send it to Patient Financial Services, 1111 N. Nagle Street, Alturas, CA 96101.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > Patients below 100% of the federal poverty level pay nothing.
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > Patients between 301% and 400% of the federal poverty level receive a 20% discount on their bill.
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > Patients between 101% and 150% of federal poverty level receive an 80% discount on their bill.
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > Patients between 151% and 200% of the federal poverty level receive a 60% discount on their bill.
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > Patients between 201% and 300% of the federal poverty level receive a 40% discount on their bill.
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > insured patients that are unable to pay patient liabilities may have all or part of their hospital bills covered
- Asset test https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > These discounts will be made based on income and family size only.
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > documentation of income shall be limited to recent pay stubs or income tax returns.
- Languages https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > Patients shall be provided this information in writing, and it shall be available in English and Spanish.
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c2d5e596-6be6-406a-84c1-6a7c8d26efa4
  > The Financial Counselor can be reached at (530) 708-8819 for further information.

Last checked 2026-11-10.

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