District of Columbia Payment Resources



Summary of Payment Program

Billing

In the District of Columbia, the medical forensic exam is always free. For adult/adolescent sexual assault patients of DC Forensic Nurse Examiners (DCFNE), the emergency room visit at MedStar Washington Hospital center is also free. If the patient requires any additional testing or treatment, the patient will receive a bill. An advocate can help the patient apply for Crime Victims Compensation and seek reimbursement for medical bills.

A person is eligible for compensation by the Crime Victims Compensation Program if…

  • The victim suffered personal injury (physical injury or emotional trauma) or death in the District of Columbia – or the victim is a resident of the District who has suffered personal injury as a result of a terrorist act or act of mass violence committed outside of the United States.
  • The crime was reported to law enforcement within seven days of occurrence. Exceptions: victims of sexual assault may satisfy reporting requirement by obtaining a sexual assault examination; victims of domestic violence may satisfy requirement by seeking a civil protection order; and the reporting requirement is met by victims of child cruelty if a neglect petition is filed in the DC Superior Court.
  • Application for compensation is filed within one year after the crime – or within one year of learning about the program, if adequately showing that the delay was reasonable.
  • The victim cooperates with reasonable law enforcement requests to apprehend the offender.
  • The victim did not participate in, consented to, or provoked the crime that caused his or her injury.
  • The award of compensation does not unjustly enrich the offender.

District of Columbia Crime Victims Compensation
DC CVC Application

Coordination with healthcare 

The DC Victim Hotline is available 24/7 by telephone, text, or online chat. Through a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants and the National Center for Victims of Crime, the hotline provides comprehensive information, resources and referrals in the District of Columbia. The new DC Victim Hotline represents an unprecedented collaboration of service providers in DC who are working to seamlessly connect victims of crime to free, resources and to help them navigate the physical, financial, legal, and emotional repercussions of crime. To contact the hotline, dial or text 1-844-4HELPDC (1-844-443-5732) or access the online chat at www.DCvictim.org/chat.

Other information

Reporting: If the patient decides to make a police report, DCFNE will send the patients PERK to the DC Department of Forensic Sciences for testing within 7 days. If the patient does not make a police report, DCFNE will hold the patients PERK for one year (or longer, if requested).

DC PERK Tracking Database / HC Standard

Transportation: Unless transported by an ambulance, the Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC) and Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (DC SAFE) can provide private transportation to and from the hospital. They can be reached by calling 844-4HELP-DC.