Officials from Orlando Health and Florida Hospital have announced they will not bill survivors of the recent Pulse nightclub shooting for their out-of-pocket medical expenses, instead writing off about $5.5 million in care.
Orlando Regional Medical Center, the largest facility in the system, treated 44 of the victims after the June 12 attack in which 49 people were killed, according to published reports. Its trauma center is mere block away from the nightclub.
Nine of those patients died, and their families will not be charged.
"The Pulse shooting was a horrendous tragedy for the victims, their families, and our entire community," Orlando Health President and CEO David Strong said in a statement. "During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals, and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support. This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward."
[Also: Reports: HIPAA waived for Orlando hospital in wake of nation's deadliest mass shooting]
Hospital spokesperson Kena Lewis said via email Thursday that the system is exploring a number of options to help the victims address immediate and ongoing medical costs. These include state and federal funds, private insurance, disability insurance, Florida's crime victim compensation program, funding sources established for individual victims, means-tested programs like Medicaid and charity care provided by Orlando Health.
"As for future medical treatments and costs, we can't predict the future needs of these patients, their financial situations, or what the state or federal governments may require us to do for charity policies," said Lewis. "So, while we can't assume we will provide free care forever, we will use our very generous charity and financial assistance policies to assess the best way to ensure our patients get quality care here at Orlando Health in the most fiscally responsible manner."
At Orlando Health, bills will be sent to insurers for patients who had coverage, but whatever those policies don't cover will be absorbed by the hospital chain. Florida Hospital, which treated a dozen victims, will not bill their insurance for the treatment they received, nor for any potential follow-up surgeries.
Twitter: @JELagasse