Health care financing system and method

Abstract

A method for financing health care includes the steps of: receiving patient data in a data processing system; collecting from disparate health care grant systems health care grant information into a single database; identifying qualification criteria in the health care grant information; and, comparing the patient data to the qualification criteria and, if the patient data satisfies the criteria, creating a notification that the criteria have been met. A system for financing health care is also disclosed.

1 . A method for financing health care, comprising the steps of:
 receiving patient data in a data processing system;   collecting from disparate health care grant systems health care grant information into a single database; and,   identifying qualification criteria in said health care grant information; and,   comparing the patient data to the qualification criteria and, if said patient data satisfies said criteria, creating a notification that said criteria have been met.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said patient data comprises credit data. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said patient data comprises insurance data. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said patient data comprises income data. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said database is accessed by said data processing system over the Internet. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health care grant information is collected from said health care grant systems by accessing said systems. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health care grant information is collected from said health care grant systems by receiving information transmitted by said health care grant systems. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health care grant system is Medicaid. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said health care grant information includes health care grant amounts, and further comprising the step of obtaining health care grant amounts for health care grant systems which have criteria which have been satisfied by said patient data. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of comparing said grant amount to health care costs for said patient. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of obtaining financing for any portion of the health care costs of said patient in excess of said grant amount. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a health care grant application for health care grant systems for which said criteria have been satisfied. 
   
   
       13 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program for financing health care, said computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:
 receiving patient data in a data processing system;   collecting from disparate health care grant systems health care grant information into a single database; and,   identifying qualification criteria in said health care grant information; and,   comparing the patient data to the qualification criteria and, if said patient data satisfies said criteria, creating a notification that said criteria have been met.   
   
   
       26 . A system for obtaining health care financing, comprising:
 a data processing system adapted to receive patient data;   a database comprising health care grant information collected from disparate health care grant systems;   said data processing system being adapted to identify qualification criteria in said health care grant information, to compare the patient data to the qualification criteria and, if said patient data satisfies said criteria, to create a notification that said criteria have been met.   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said patient data comprises credit data. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said patient data comprises insurance data. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said patient data comprises income data. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said database and said data processing system are connected through an internet connection. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said data processing system comprises structure for collecting said health care grant information from said health care grant systems by accessing said systems. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said data processing system comprises structure for collecting said health care grant information from said health care grant systems by receiving information transmitted by said health care grant systems. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said health care grant system is Medicaid. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said health care grant information includes health care grant amounts, said system obtaining said grant amounts for health care grant systems which have criteria which have been satisfied by said patient data. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein said system further comprises structure for comparing said grant amounts to health care costs for said patient. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , further comprising structure for obtaining financing for any portion of the health care costs of said patient in excess of said amount of said grant. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising structure for providing a health care grant application for the health care grant system for which said criteria have been satisfied.