Cape Fear Valley to rape victims: If you were charged for rape kit, let us know to waive costs

Over a dozen rape victims in Cumberland County feel victimized - a second time - after they got hospital bills for taking rape kit tests.

WRAL News obtained documents that showed rape victims getting billed thousands of dollars from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

House Bill 1342 says hospitals are not supposed to charge rape victims. Medical facilities are to provide free forensic medical examinations for victims of rape and other sexual offenses.

The state’s Assistance Program for Victims of Rape and Sex Offenses pays medical facilities up to $800 for rape kit tests.

Last year, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center billed about 17 rape victims for taking rape kit tests. Some victims were charged – either billed by the hospital or their insurance carrier – up to $4,000.

Deanne Gerdes, the executive director of Rape Crisis Volunteers of Cumberland County has been working with rape victims for more than a year to get hospital bills for rape kit tests resolved. She is outraged.

“When we know about them, we’ll fight. We’ll call up the billing company and get it resolved. But we have to know about it,” said Gerdes.

Gerdes says the victims don't know what to do with the bills and, many times, they go unpaid and end up damaging a victim’s credit.

Cape Fear Valley Medical Center acknowledged it’s against their policy to bill rape victims but admits on occasion a bill is mistakenly sent out. Once it was brought to their attention, they say they zero out the balance.

“A very small percentage slipped through the cracks in the past and had been billed home. But once we’re aware of that, we write it off,” said Janet Conway, hospital spokesperson.

But the rape crisis director says by that time the damage has already been done.

One hospital administrator said if a patient doesn't file a police report then the state won't pay the bill.

But many rape victims are too embarrassed to go to law enforcement to report the crime.

In a statement, the hospital says in May of last year, it changed its in processing procedures for rape victims.

Patients are now registered as Victim’s Assistance to enable the health system to apply for reimbursement from the state Victim’s Assistance Fund.

But WRAL News has bills that show victims were still being asked to pay for tests as late as November of 2019.

“If they get a bill from the hospital, they should call our patient financial services and let them know that they did receive a bill and those charges will be eliminated,” Conway said.

Gerdes says the billing has to stop.

“The victims are unaware they’re going to get a bill, and they’re sent to their home,” said Gerdes. “You don’t know who has access to their home, who knows that they’ve been raped.”