Now the hospitals that treated Littlestar and more than 50 others who were injured in the nightclub attack have provided another reason to be thankful: they will not send any medical bills to Pulse patients.
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Nine of the Pulse patients died shortly after arriving at ORMC, and their families also will not be charged, hospital officials said.
One victim, for instance, was just visiting from Miami when he went to Pulse after a housewarming party at a friend’s.
“During this very trying time, many organizations, individuals, and charities have reached out to Orlando Health to show their support”, he said.
According to an ABC News report, Orlando Health will look at a number of avenues to find the funding necessary to cover the bills – including victim funds, federal funds and the crime victim compensation program.
Both Orlando Regional Medical Center and Florida Hospital, which treated the majority of the victims of the attack, announced on Thursday that they would seek payment for the estimated $5.5 million in services through other means, including insurance plans and the victims’ fund established earlier this summer. “This is simply our way of paying that kindness forward”, said Orlando Health CEO David Strong called the shooting a “horrendous tragedy”.
Daryl Tol, CEO and president of Florida Hospital, said it was incredible to see the community coming together after shooting and he hopes their gesture will add to the goodwill and heart defining Orlando. “I know it’s a lot of money involved”, Perez said.
“I had health insurance, so I really wasn’t as anxious about it”. Furthermore, they say that while they can’t promise free medical care forever, they are committed to continuing to work with the victims – many of whom will need follow-up procedures – to get them the care they need at no expense to them.
“They’re young, primarily Latino and living in Florida”, she told Aboraya, noting that Florida is one of the states that have opted out of the Medicaid expansion that was part of the Affordable Care Act. “My guess would be you have a high rate of uninsured”.
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But in a post on The Stranger, Dan Savage argues this is “a feel bad story disguised as a feel good story”.
