LONGMONT - Longmont United Hospital will limit its indigent care for people living outside its service area.

Indigent care consists of health services provided to the poor or those unable to pay.
 
After an influx of indigent patients visiting Longmont United for elective procedures within the last six months, the hospital chose to restrict care for some people in hopes of cutting costs. Last year, the hospital spent about $24 million in indigent care, said Mitchell Carson, the hospitalís president and chief executive officer.

"For elective procedures the people have to come from our service area," Carson said.

That service area includes cities like Berthoud, Niwot, Hygiene, Morey and Mead. Carson said the service area is roughly 15 to 20 miles in each direction from Longmont.

The hospital started limiting its indigent care for non-urgent care, such as knee surgery, Sept. 21.