Our Story

St. Luke’s Patient Assistance Program can make a critical difference in the life of a patient. The program, funded entirely by charitable donations, is a last resort safety net for patients and their families experiencing emergency needs during a healthcare crisis. The program provides non-medical assistance to qualifying patients with important basics such as temporary housing, meal vouchers, medications, gasoline and transportation vouchers for travel to and from the hospital, help with utility bills and more. As the population in the Treasure Valley grows, so has the need for financial aid. St. Luke’s, the only locally owned not-for-profit health system, is receiving more and more requests for assistance. Many people in our communities struggle to afford life’s basic necessities let alone pay for unforeseen medical costs. Often, an individual’s current financial status can negatively influence their treatment decisions, and in some cases a patient may make the decision to forego treatment altogether—the immediate financial burden outweighing their long-term quality of life and health. The aim of the Patient Assistance Program is to remove that barrier aiding the patient in completing their treatment and focus on healing—it can’t cure disease, but it can ease their mind.