As patients continue to struggle with paying out of pocket, hospitals are coming up with creative ways to trade health services for things other than money. For example, New York's Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center launched the Lincoln Art Exchange, in which artists provide their creative services for health credits, such as $40 for every one hour toward a musical performance or painted mural, Nurse.com reported. Those credits are then applied to the doctor visits, laboratory tests, hospitalizations, emergency care, medical and surgical procedures, dental care, prescriptions, ambulatory surgery and other services, the article noted.
Providers also have extended other types of care for different patient contributions, trading back adjustments, dental fillings and eye exams for odd jobs, such as landscaping. Article