Client Funding Requests

Implementation Date: 11/18/2016

Date of Last Review: 3/1/2023

Next Review Due: 2/28/2026

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: 11/17/2016

Revised VTH Director Approval: 2/19/2021

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Printable PDF: Client Funding Policy

Policy

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital has specific funds set up through the UI Foundation (Advancement) designated for client financial assistance for specific types of clinical cases with authorized approval.

Guidelines

University of Illinois employees are not eligible to receive financial assistance per University of Illinois Office of Business and Financial Services policies. 

Financial assistance is available to clients.  The VTH Gift Fund Officer or a designee must authorize the use of these funds based on the criteria outlined below.

1. Owner is informed of the option of Care Credit and still needs assistance.
2. Patient is judged to have a good quality of life if treated successfully.
3. Owner provides some financial support except in exceptional circumstances.
4. Owner has committed to adhere to follow-up care instructions.
5. Owner allows their case to be (anonymously) shared with the donor of the Gift Fund as well as in VTH publicity (including photographs of the patient, brief history, and outcome testimonials) if treatment is successful.
6. Owner has not previously received financial assistance. In exceptional circumstances, the clinician on the case can request an exception to this from the funding request committee.
7. Owner is not on the delinquent account list and does not owe money in the Health Information System or in Banner. 
8. Financial Assistance should not exceed $1,000 without VTH Director approval.

Procedure (if applicable)

1. The owner self-identifies the need for financial assistance or the clinician identifies the need through conversation with the owner.
2. The owner completes the VTH Gift Fund Application found at https://appserv7.admin.uillinois.edu/FormBuilderSurvey/Survey/UIUCVetMed/admin/vth_gift_fund/Survey.
3. The submitted form is routed by the Client Services Staff member to the clinician of record.
4. The clinician determines that the client/case fits the stated guidelines, completes the Clinical Summary, and submits the form for consideration by the Gift Fund Officer.
5. The Gift Fund Officer will review the request and available funds and will approve or deny the request. The decision will generate an email response to the clinician of record.

No Funding decision should be communicated to the owner prior to approval by the Gift Fund Officer.

6. The clinician submits an application and an online adjustment request form for approval by the faculty or VTH Director.
7. The authorized approver reviews fund balances and the appropriateness of funds for the requested purpose.
8. Fund balances can be viewed in iReport at the following link: https://vetmed.illinois.edu/ireport/vth-client-funding.pl

Urgent patient care situations may require verbal consent from the faculty member. However, all owners must fill out the application, and an adjustment request must be submitted within 24 hours.

Process for submitting the online adjustment form for a client funding request:

1. Prior approval form – see page 3 of this file.
2. https://appserv7.admin.uillinois.edu/FormBuilderSurvey/Survey/UIUCVetMed/admin/adjustment_form/
3. Log In using your net ID and password
4. Fill out the form for the current fiscal year.

Enter applicable client information – choose credit adjustment – provide reason for adjustment and dollar amount of adjustment to be processed – save – route the form to proper approver – save

Definitions (if applicable)

Authorized approval - Designated Faculty member, VTH Director, or Director’s designee.

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) – The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.

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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Veterinary Teaching Hospital

240 Small Animal Clinic, MC-004

1008 W Hazelwood Drive

Urbana, IL 61802-4714

Through the UI Foundation, The Veterinary Teaching Hospital receives limited monetary donations that are designated to assist clients in helping to pay for hospital services for cases that meet specific criteria. The University of Illinois employees are not eligible. Approvals are based on the following application in conjunction with the clinician’s input of patient status and prognosis.

This form must be filled out by the owner, as identified in our health information system, of the patient.

Owner name__________________________________________

Pet name ____________________________________________

1. Are you a University of Illinois employee? Yes N
2. Have you applied for Care Credit? Yes No
3. If yes, were you approved or denied? Please include your approved limit. 
4. Do you qualify for one or more of the following (please circle): SNAP, State or Federally Funded Welfare Program, Medicaid, Social Security, SSI Disability, Unemployment, Non-Commissioned Active Military, have suffered extreme medical expense, loss of home due to natural disaster, or other hardship.
5. What is the estimate of the cost for your pet’s care?
6. Please tell us about your current financial situation as it relates to paying for your pet’s care.
7. How much are you able to contribute today towards your pet’s care?
8. How much are you able to contribute in the next 30 days towards your pet’s care?
9. How much have you paid in veterinary care at other facilities related to these symptoms/diagnoses?
10. How will you manage the necessary follow-up care for your pet?
11. The owner allows their case to be (anonymously) shared with the donor of the Gift Fund as well as in VTH publicity (i.e., photographs of the patient, brief history, and outcome testimonials) if treatment is successful. ________ (initial)

Gift Fund Use Description

Enrietto Indigent Pet Fund

The terms of the will/trust are as follows: "One-quarter share of the residuary estate to the University of Illinois - Indigent Pet Fund".

1-612360-255000-191300 DBF Code: EIPF

Humane Connection

The net income from the Fund shall be used in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to support the care of animal companions that might not otherwise be possible. This would also contribute to the excellent learning environment for veterinary students by enabling them to pursue additional treatments on companion animals. Companion animals served may be owned or they may be homeless. Should the Humane Connection program cease to exist, the secondary purpose for the net income will be used to provide scholarships to veterinary students in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

1-623838-255000-191200 DBF Code: WAA1

Lifelink Fund

The Lifelink Fund helps to defray expenses for the medical care of animals.

1-623986-255000-191200 DBF Code: ALJ6

Anne Fund

For the support of the Animal Neutering and Spaying Endeavor, College of Veterinary Medicine.

1-624021-255000-191200 DBF Code: CWS1

Equine Emergency Fund

The Equine Emergency Fund assists qualified horse owners who cannot afford equine veterinary care. 1-624679-255000-191200 DBF Code: EEF Indigent Pet Fund This fund is used to defray expenses for abandoned pets or pets of indigent owners. 1-625997-255000-191200 DBF Code: ALJ13

Dunbar Vet Care Fund

To be used to assist in the treatment of small animals through the Small Animal Clinic in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The net income from the Fund shall be used to help ensure treatment and care for small animals belonging to individuals or families who might not otherwise be able to afford such treatment and care.

1-629305-255000-191300 DBF Code: DVCF

Pascoe Memorial Fund

To be used to support the treatment of feline animal companions whose owners are financially unable to cover the costs associated with emergency surgical and medical treatments in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Head of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, or designee, shall determine the uses, amounts and recipients of the funds, subject to the approval of the appropriate University officials. 1-630221-255000-191200 DBF code PASCO

Sabu Fund

The Sabu Fund is to support pet owners who cannot afford oncology treatments in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

1-633247-255000-191300 DBF Code: SABU

Teresa R. Culbert Sturdy Pet Assistance Fund

The Teresa R. Culbert Sturdy Pet Assistance Fund is to provide financial assistance to Veterinary Teaching Hospital clients that have limited financial resources.

1-634218-255115-191200 DBF Code: STRDY

Jet and Mac Cassens Oncology Fund

The Jet and Mac Cassens Oncology Fund shall be used for unrestricted support of the oncology faculty at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Support may be used for, but not limited to supplies, equipment, and assisting clients who cannot afford veterinary care for their pet.

1-634248-255000-191300 DBF Code: CASS1

Shirley Atwell Langridge Fund

The Shirley Atwell Langridge Fund is to be used for research in the area of canine liver disease and/or to support the care and treatment of patients of the Small Animal Clinic.

1-634819-255000-191300 DBF Code: SALF

A Friend in Need Animal Care Fund

A Friend in Need Animal Care Fund shall support the cost of veterinary care for a small animal whose owners do not have the financial resources to access the services of the Small Animal Clinic at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. It is the Donors’ preference that said support be allocated in the following manner (a) For family-owned pets, the fund will pay for the cost of the services, less a ten percent (10%) co-payment, borne by the pet owner(s) up to a maximum of $500. (b) For ownerless animals, the entire cost of services may be covered by the fund (c) For any non-preventative care for small animals, including but not limited to, emergency care, cardiology, and oncology.

1-635042-255000-191200 DBF Code: MIPF2

Dr. Gary and Mary Stamp ER/ICU Fund

The Dr. Gary and Mary Stamp ER/ICU fund is to provide support for pet owners who do not have the necessary funds to treat the medical conditions of their pet admitted to the emergency room or intensive care unit at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

1-635255-255000-191200 DBF Code: STAMP

GB McDonough VTH Fund

To be used to provide support for pet owners who do not have the funds necessary to treat the medical conditions of their pet at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

1-636420-255000-191200 DBF Code: GBM1

Sheeley Memorial Fund

The Fund shall support the treatment and services for shelter or stray felines and feline companions whose owners have limited financial resources. The maximum gift with respect to each animal shall be $500. 1-636882-255000-191300 DBF Code: SMF01 KodiakCare Canine Care To provide life-saving care for canines in the Teaching Hospital. The owners of such canines may be those with limited financial means who would not otherwise move forward with critical veterinary care in the Teaching Hospital. The amount provided for each canine shall be up to $1,000.

1-637421-255000-191300 DBF Code: KCCC

*Description from Advancement Office-Updated 02/10/2021