# Sonoma Valley Hospital

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

Sonoma Valley Hospital likely gives free care 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. We have not found a discount for incomes above the free care level.

The hospital makes the final decision.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $63,840 | not found |
| 2 | $86,560 | not found |
| 3 | $109,280 | not found |
| 4 | $132,000 | not found |
| 5 | $154,720 | not found |
| 6 | $177,440 | not found |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays $0 (100% free care)

## How to apply

- Call (707) 935-5325 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=ad0f187e-160f-487d-addf-2fc19dc259de)
- [Sonoma Valley Hospital Charity Care Policy (GL8610-122) and Discount Payment & Payment Policy (GL8610-26.1), effective 1/1/2025, revised 11/26](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=a3e6b506-f042-47f7-8b01-61fcec627d53)
- 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 one of these for every adult in the household: recent pay stubs from within 6 months before or after the first bill, or the most recent federal income tax return, or a signed statement of household support if taxes are not filed.
- Very large bills. Patients over the free care limit whose out-of-pocket costs at the hospital top 10% of family income can get a discount of up to 100%, with the bill capped at what Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay

## 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. Medically necessary hospital services at Sonoma Valley Hospital.

Not covered. Emergency physician services are billed separately, though patients may still apply for charity care. Free care, discounts, and payment plans apply only to medically necessary hospital services.

## 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 at or below 400% of the poverty level, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The policy sets no income-based partial discount, so the discount limit here is the same as the free care limit. Above 400%, patients with high medical costs can get more off, and their bill is capped at what Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay. All uninsured patients get 30% off most billed charges, with flat rates for therapy, lab draws, and calcium scoring tests. You do not have to apply for Medi-Cal or Medicare first. You get an answer within 30 days. Free care approval lasts 6 months. Collections stop while your application is reviewed. Appeals go in writing to the Patient Accounting Manager or Director of Finance, and the CFO answers within two weeks. The policy gives no deadline to apply and does not say whether savings are counted. It says the policy is in English and the top 15 languages of patients with limited English, but it does not name them. Fax is (707) 935-5319.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=a3e6b506-f042-47f7-8b01-61fcec627d53
  > Household income at or below 400% of FPG, based on income at the time of service or first billing.
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=77c29b62-c97e-4553-8e0e-f67abdbc11c5
  > Provide free care (Charity Care) to eligible patients at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=77c29b62-c97e-4553-8e0e-f67abdbc11c5
  > who qualify for Charity Care will receive a 100% reduction of charges for medically necessary hospital services.
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=a3e6b506-f042-47f7-8b01-61fcec627d53
  > who have health care needs and are uninsured, under-insured, and are otherwise unable to pay for medically necessary care
- Very large bills https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=77c29b62-c97e-4553-8e0e-f67abdbc11c5
  > Discounts may reduce the patient balance by up to 100% if high medical cost criteria are met.
- What is not covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=a3e6b506-f042-47f7-8b01-61fcec627d53
  > services are billed separately; however, patients may still apply for Charity Care.
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=a3e6b506-f042-47f7-8b01-61fcec627d53
  > Signed statement explaining household financial support if taxes are not filed.
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=a3e6b506-f042-47f7-8b01-61fcec627d53
  > Patient Accounting Office by calling 707.935.5325

Last checked 2026-11-10.

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