News

Orlando Health, Florida Hospital Pulse patients won't be billed

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Health and Florida Hospital won’t be charging Pulse patients for their medical care, the hospitals said in  statements Wednesday.

The hospitals have not sent any hospital or medical bills directly to patients and do not intend to make patients pay for what insurance won’t cover.

The hospital said in a statement, "Orlando Health has not sent any hospital or medical bills directly to Pulse patients and we don’t intend to pursue reimbursement of medical costs from them. We are exploring numerous options to help the victims of the Pulse nightclub tragedy address immediate and ongoing medical costs. These include state and federal funds, private insurance, victim funds like the One Orlando fund, disability insurance, Florida’s crime victim compensation program, funding sources established for individual victims, means-tested programs like Medicaid, as well as charity care provided by Orlando Health. Even with these multiple funding sources, Orlando Health’s total unreimbursed costs could exceed $5 million."

Florida Health followed suit, saying it will not be billing for services.

"It was incredible to see how our community came together in the wake of the senseless Pulse shooting. We hope this gesture can add to the heart and goodwill that defines Orlando,” said the hospital’s CEO, Daryl Tol, in a statement.

Orlando Health treated 44 patients of the June 12 terror attack.

Forty-nine people were killed when gunman Omar Mateen opened fire inside the nightclub.