New Patient Assistance Programs registration policy now in effect
A new Policy that took effect on May 1 requires VUMC departments to register and obtain Patient Assistance Committee approval of any patient assistance programs they operate. A new Standard Operating Procedure provides a link to the tool that departments need to complete to comply with the new registration process.
The Policy, SOP and the Registration Tool may be found in the Patient Assistance category of the VUMC Policies in PolicyTech.
What is Patient Assistance? “Patient Assistance” means any VUMC program that assists or supports VUMC patients or their families. Examples of patient assistance include gas cards, free transportation, housing, lodging, meals, clothing, drugs home care, and medical equipment.
If your department operates a patient assistance program, we ask that you identify one team member who will be the primary administrator of the program and register the program with the Patient Assistance Committee by filling out the form at this link. The registration process applies to programs operated by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital, Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital or Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital.
Applications will be reviewed for compliance with applicable federal law and regulation, as well as VUMC policy, by the Office of Compliance & Corporate Integrity and the Office of Legal Affairs.
Upon completion of the Compliance and Legal review process and the receipt of any requested additional information, the application will be referred to the full Patient Assistance Committee for consideration and approval. Once an application has been submitted, a patient assistance program that was in operation as of the May 1st effective date of the Policy on the Evaluation, Approval and Oversight of Patient Assistance Programs may continue to operate while the application is under review.
Please share any additional comments/questions you may have and email us: patientassistance@vumc.org.