The State and Local Hospitalization (SLH) Program provides payment for inpatient and outpatient hospitalization services, ambulatory surgical services performed in free-standing ambulatory surgical centers and local Virginia Health Department clinical services provided to individuals who do not have the resources to pay for these medical services themselves. SLH is not medical insurance. It does not cover the professional services of medical doctors and other health care practitioners or prescriptions obtained from a drugstore or pharmacy. It may be available to you if you are not eligible for Medicaid and your income is less than or equal to 100% of the federal poverty level.

Local departments of social services determine eligibility for SLH. All applications must be made to your local department within 30 days following an individual's discharge from a hospital that participates in the SLH Program or within 30 days from receipt of services from an outpatient clinic or a local health department clinic. The hospital or clinic will be able to tell you whether or not they participate in the SLH Program. You may also apply prior to the receipt of services. Funding for the SLH program is limited. Once your locality's SLH Program funds are exhausted, no applications will be accepted or approved.

Eligibility Guidelines

• You must not be eligible for Medicaid. If you appear to be eligible for Medicaid, the eligibility worker who processes your application may ask you for additional information. If you are found eligible for Medicaid, you will be enrolled in Medicaid and not SLH.
• You must be a resident of the city or county in which you are applying for SLH and must not have established residence solely for the purpose of obtaining benefits. Migrant workers on Virginia's Eastern Shore (Accomack and Northampton Counties) may be eligible for SLH and should contact their local department of social services for additional information.
• You must be a citizen or lawful alien. If your citizenship is questionable, it must be proved. Alien status must be verified. Undocumented aliens are not eligible for SLH.
• You must assign all rights to medical care support and third party payments for you and any other individual for whom you can legally make an assignment. You must also cooperate with the local department of social services by identifying any third party who is liable to pay for your medical care and services.
• You must have countable resources that do not exceed $2,000 for one person or $3,000 for two or more persons. The following resources are excluded:
  • Your home property and its contents and property contiguous to your home, including all buildings and improvements on the property
  • income-producing farming and business equipment; property owned solely by an individual in the household who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • One burial plot per individual
  • A burial account with an equity value of $1,500 or less
  • A motor vehicle with an equity value of $1,500 or less
• You must have countable income below specified levels. You income and the income of your spouse and children under age 18 who live with you are counted and must be verified. Verification of earned income before deductions may be from pay stubs or a written statement from the employer. Other income must be verified by an appropriate source.

If you think you might be eligible for SLH, you should file an application entitled "Request for Benefits" at your local department of social services. You do not need to visit the office to file an application. You can also request that an application be mailed to you so that you can complete it and mail it back to the local department of social services. If you have questions or need assistance in completing your SLH application, contact an eligibility worker at your local department of social services.