West Virginia University Health System must maintain charity care and financial assistance programs for patients at five Pennsylvania hospitals it acquired from Independence Health System, according to a settlement announced by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday on September 2, 2026. The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance imposes specific patient protections as a condition of the merger. WVUHS completed the acquisition of Butler Memorial, Clarion, Westmoreland, Frick, and Latrobe hospitals, which together serve nearly one million people across Western Pennsylvania. The settlement requires the health system to keep these hospitals open for at least five years and ensures patients can access financial assistance without facing restricted insurance access or conflicting payment terms.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from Attorneygeneral — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Butlereagle — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What WVUHS Must Disclose About Charity Care
- Insurance Contract Restrictions Protecting Access
- How Long These Protections Last
- What This Settlement Does Not Cover
- How to Access and Verify These Protections
- Frequently Asked Questions
What WVUHS Must Disclose About Charity Care
The settlement requires WVUHS to inform patients about charity care and financial assistance programs when they register for admission at any of the five hospitals. Under the agreement, the health system must disclose these policies consistent with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services guidance. This means you have the right to learn about programs before your hospital visit, not after you receive a bill.
The requirement applies at registration, which is the point where you have the most ability to plan your care and ask about costs upfront. If you are admitted through an emergency department, you should still receive written information about these programs during your stay or shortly after.
Insurance Contract Restrictions Protecting Access
The settlement blocks WVUHS from using several restrictive contract tactics with insurance companies that could limit your choices or care access. The health system cannot impose anti-tiering, anti-steering, gag clauses, most-favored-nation clauses, exclusivity, or all-or-nothing terms. In plain terms, this prevents the hospital from restricting which insurance plans can use its facilities or forcing insurers into unfavorable blanket agreements that could result in higher costs for patients.
These restrictions protect you by ensuring that WVUHS cannot use its market power to block insurers from negotiating fair rates or discontinue contracts based on nothing more than negotiating leverage. If contract negotiations fail, WVUHS must submit to binding arbitration rather than walking away from coverage agreements, which ensures continued access even during disputes.
How Long These Protections Last
WVUHS committed to keeping all five hospitals and healthcare facilities open for at least five years following the October 2026 acquisition completion. This five-year maintenance period is critical for patients who depend on local hospital access, since hospital closures disproportionately affect rural and underserved communities. The health system must also provide written notice to Pennsylvania's Attorney General of any significant changes to services at these hospitals during the five-year period. This gives the state the ability to intervene if WVUHS attempts to reduce services in ways that would harm patient access to care.
What This Settlement Does Not Cover
The settlement focuses on charity care policies, financial assistance disclosure, and insurance contract practices. It does not cap hospital bills, guarantee specific charity care amounts, or prohibit WVUHS from raising prices within normal market rates. Patients still bear responsibility for understanding their coverage and pursuing available financial assistance. The five-year hospital maintenance requirement does not extend beyond October 2031.
After that date, WVUHS has greater freedom to modify services or consolidate facilities, though it would still need to follow all other settlement terms regarding charity care and insurance contracting. Patients should not assume protections remain unchanged permanently.
How to Access and Verify These Protections
When you register at any of the five hospitals, ask for written information about charity care and financial assistance programs before or during admission. Request the hospital's policies in writing so you have documentation of what was offered. If the hospital cannot provide these policies or appears unwilling to discuss financial assistance, you can file a complaint with Pennsylvania's Attorney General.
Keep records of all conversations about charity care, denial of care, or billing disputes, including dates, staff names, and what was said. If WVUHS imposes terms that conflict with charity care eligibility, attempts to exclude you based on insurance type, or fails to disclose these programs, the Attorney General's office can investigate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this settlement erase my hospital bill if I qualify for charity care?
No. The settlement requires hospitals to disclose and maintain charity care programs, but it does not guarantee you will qualify or that programs will cover the full bill. You must apply based on each hospital's specific eligibility rules.
What should I do if a hospital doesn't tell me about charity care at registration?
Ask for the charity care policy in writing. If the hospital refuses or delays, document the date and request, then contact Pennsylvania's Attorney General's office to file a complaint.
Does this settlement apply to all Pennsylvania hospitals?
No. It applies only to the five former Independence Health System hospitals: Butler Memorial, Clarion, Westmoreland, Frick, and Latrobe.
Can WVU Health still charge me different amounts for the same service at these hospitals?
The settlement does not control pricing. It restricts insurance contract terms and requires charity care disclosure, but hospitals retain the ability to set their own rates.