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Springfield, Ohio — A computer glitch caused by the consolidation of billing systems at Community Mercy Health Partners' three hospitals has delayed the billing of about 41,000 patients who used hospital services between January and May.

Only self-pay or self-pay-after-insurance patients were affected by the glitch, said Dave Lamb, Community Mercy spokesman. Insurance companies are billed under a different system and were not affected, he said.

The hospital began mailing out letters explaining the situation on Tuesday, June 15. Patients should expect their first statement about 10 to 12 days after they receive the letter. No patient's bill will be considered past-due, regardless of the day of service, Lamb said.

The hospital is well-within the allowable time frame to bill the patients, an Ohio Hospital Association spokesperson said. The statute of limitations would be in years, not months, Tiffany Himmelreich of the OHA said.

The billing statements will include a phone number patients can call for more information or to make payment arrangements.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0347 or kmori@coxohio.com.