Is converse county memorial hospital public or private?

Answer 1

The Memorial Hospital of Converse County in Douglas, Wyoming, Laramie Peak is owned by the local district government authority. It is also certified by Medicare(1) for Critical Access care. It has 25 beds, but also runs clinics and provides health care support to the county.

PATIENTS ARE BILLED for the services they receive at the hospital. The hospital provides price comparisons so that those seeking healthcare can make appropriate financial plans. This hospital's rates for procedures and diagnosis are at the state average. As well as accepting patients who can fund their own treatment, the hospital accepts patients who have social insurance/support under the Medicare(1) and Medicaid(2) schemes. (See the hospital's pre-admission form via links below. This form asks the payor how they are going to pay.)

The hospital is also partially funded by state support (Wyoming County) that is made available for a number of medical care centers in the state via the Critical Access/Rural Hospital Endowment Challenge Fund.

The hospital also has its own foundation, the Converse County Hospital Foundation which receives and distributes donations as it sees fit. Donations to this foundation are made by private individuals and corporate sponsors.

SUMMARY

The hospital is state owned not privately owned, and therefore is not a private hospital in that sense.

It offers healthcare for the general public, so it is a public hospital.

Of course, all healthcare services are provided at a cost. Those seeking treatment or diagnosis must arrange for the costs of these services to be funded.

This can be by:

1. direct payment
2. via healthcare insurance
3. via the Medicare/Medicaid schemes

Notes

(1) Medicare is a government provision of hospital and health insurance which is available to those over 65 or who otherwise meet special qualifying conditions.

(2) Medicaid is a means-tested form of federal/state health support for those on low income.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• For more information, see Sources and Related linksbelow.