Delaware Hospitals Discussed New Charity Care Rules
State hospital leaders and regulators met to review the implementation of Senate Bill 13 charity care requirements.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Healthcare
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Hospital executives and the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board met to address new mandate requirements for patient financial assistance. The discussion focused on eligibility screening and administrative procedures for upcoming charity care expansions.
Why it matters
Senate Bill 13 requires hospitals to expand access to free care for patients earning under 300% of the federal poverty line. Regulators are working to finalize these compliance rules to ensure transparency and consistency across the state.
Delaware hospitals spent an average of $39 million annually on charity care between 2020 and 2024, representing 1% of their total expenses. Total community benefit spending for 2024 ranged between 5.6% and 11.8% across systems.
The players
Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board
This state regulatory body is responsible for overseeing hospital financial policies and enforcing compliance with new healthcare mandates.
Senate Bill 13
This piece of state legislation mandates an expansion of free medical care to lower-income residents in Delaware.
The details
Hospital leaders met to voice concerns regarding screening processes, specifically requesting measures to prevent ineligible patients from exploiting the system. The meeting involved consolidating tax return data to better understand current charity care ratios ahead of the state's January 1, 2027 deadline.
Timeline
Annual charity care spending averaged $39 million from 2020 through 2024.
Hospital leaders met to discuss the new regulations on October 5, 2026.
Hospitals must update their income thresholds by January 1, 2027.
The Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board expects to finalize regulations by February 2027.
Market Landscape
The push to standardize charity care aligns with broader national efforts to increase healthcare access and hospital transparency. This legislative shift forces a re-evaluation of financial models as hospitals align their community benefit strategies with stricter state-mandated targets.
Eligible patients earning under $47,880 annually will see expanded access to free hospital care under the new mandate. Patients should prepare for updated documentation requirements during hospital admission or financial assistance screening.
The takeaway
Patients should maintain detailed records of their annual income to ensure they meet the new eligibility criteria for financial assistance. Understanding these regulatory changes can help families better navigate the costs associated with hospital-based medical services.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving landscape of local health systems on the Healthcare page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Spotlight Delaware.
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