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Case Study
One respite provider decided to institute a sliding fee scale after years of offering the service at “no charge”.
The provider worked with its finance staff to calculate the full cost of the service before establishing the sliding fee scale. Staff and volunteers were educated about the full costs of providing the service, and why discussing the true cost with clients helps establish “service value” in the mind of the consumer.
Staff now discusses the service cost and sliding fee options during each intake conversation. A fee is established, and clients receive a monthly statement.
Though the program lost some volunteers and a few clients during the initial transition, it has more than doubled its annual income from sliding fees in just three years.
