What
is Christian Healthcare Ministries?
 Christian Healthcare Ministries (CHM) is a Bible-based, voluntary
medical cost-sharing ministry. In the past 15 years, CHM members
have shared more than $450 million in medical costs.
Since 1998 CHM (formerly Christian Brotherhood Newsletter) has
worked with more than 40,000 health care providers. CHM members
may receive treatment from any AMA approved facility and/or physician
provided the treatment is within CHM Guidelines.
How does my patient’s
participation in CHM affect his or her ability to pay?
 Members are self-pay patients who should receive consideration
for assistance programs and bill reductions. Many members are missionaries,
ministers, Christian educators, owners of small Christian businesses,
or are involved in other ministries.
Christian Healthcare Ministries is secondary to other potential
payment sources, after which bills are presented for sharing to
the CHM membership. Authorization for medical bill sharing is determined
by CHM Guidelines. Provider references are available. Please bill
patients directly.
What steps will my patient take to meet his or
her medical bills? What kinds of questions can I expect to hear?
We encourage our participant—your patient—to follow
these steps:
 • Make sure providers understand that the patient is self-pay and
should be billed directly
• If treatment requires several services, ask for a “bundle” rate
• Pre-negotiate before any procedure
• Ask providers if there are any financial assistance programs
available for self-pay patients
• Set up an interim payment schedule to demonstrate the patient’s
ability to pay
• Ask for a bill reduction (simply the same consideration
that is given to insurance companies). The larger the bill reduction,
the
faster the patient and CHM can work together to pay the bill.
For more information:
Christian Healthcare Ministries
127 Hazelwood Ave.
Barberton, OH 44203
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
1-800-791-6225 (ask for Reductions department)
reductions@chministries.org
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