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Medical Billing

All articles tagged with #medical billing

health27 days ago

Scorpion Peppers Led to Pain and a Surprise ER Bill

Maxwell Kruzic experienced severe stomach pain after eating extremely hot scorpion peppers, leading to an ER visit that cost over $8,000. Due to billing disputes and administrative delays, he received a bill two years later, highlighting issues with medical billing practices and the lack of uniform rules for timely billing. The hospital eventually adjusted his bill to zero after intervention, illustrating the complexities of healthcare billing and insurance interactions.

via KFF Health News|
#er-bill#health#hot-peppers
healthcare-insurance1 year ago

"Uncovering Insurers' Hidden Fees: How Slashed Payments Impact You"

Insurers like UnitedHealthcare are using a little-known data analytics firm called MultiPlan to negotiate lower payments to out-of-network medical providers, resulting in unexpectedly large bills for patients. MultiPlan and insurers have a financial incentive to cut reimbursements, with the smaller the reimbursement, the larger their fee. Patients across the country have been left with large bills, while providers have seen their pay slashed, and employers have been hit with high fees. Regulators rarely intervene, and patients have limited recourse, leading to draining and mostly fruitless appeals.

via Yahoo News|
#healthcare#healthcare-insurance#insurance
healthcare2 years ago

"Rising Trend: Insured Individuals Make Up Majority of Hospital Debtors in the US"

Medical billing analysts report that the majority of debtors to US hospitals are now people with health insurance, a significant shift from just a few years ago. The rise in "bad debt" from insured patients is attributed to complex health insurance products with large out-of-pocket costs. This trend has led to increased political concern over the impact of medical debt on Americans' lives, as well as criticism of hospitals' collection practices. The complexity of health plans and high deductibles are contributing factors, with some advocating for changes in the billing process to alleviate the burden on patients.

via The Guardian US|
#health-insurance#healthcare#hospital-debt
healthcare2 years ago

Unprotected Consumers: The Costly Consequences of Surprise Ambulance Bills

Eloise Reynolds, a widow, paid her late husband's hospital bill after his death from colon cancer. However, a year later, she received a new bill charging her an additional $1,093.16. Confused by the unexpected charges, Reynolds contacted the hospital and her insurance company but did not receive a satisfactory explanation. After media intervention, the hospital claimed it was a "clerical error" and cleared her balance. Medical billing experts emphasize the need for standardized terms and clearer itemized breakdowns on bills and insurance statements to help patients navigate the complex healthcare billing system.

via NPR|
#healthcare#hospital-charges#insurance
healthcare2 years ago

"Mother's Shocking $102,000 Debt for Son's Mental Health Hospital Stay"

A mother in North Carolina was billed nearly $102,000 for her son's stay at a state-run mental health facility. Her son, who has autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and ADHD, spent over 100 days at the facility in 2020. The family had agreed to a discounted rate, but received a bill significantly higher than expected. State attorneys general, responsible for protecting consumers from harmful debt collection practices, often find themselves in a contradictive position when collecting unpaid debts for state-run facilities. The case highlights the challenges of unaffordable healthcare, lack of billing transparency, and the financial burden faced by patients and their families. Efforts are being made to strengthen consumer protections and curb aggressive debt collection practices.

via NPR|
#autism#debt-collection#healthcare
healthcare2 years ago

Pregnant woman forced to pay thousands upfront to save twins

Sara Walsh, who was 24 weeks pregnant with twins, was diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare complication that occurs when multiple fetuses share blood unevenly through the same placenta. The doctor told her that the fetuses were experiencing cardiac issues and that she should prepare for treatment the following day. Before Dr. Ruben Quintero would see her, she needed to pay in full for the consultation, surgery, and postoperative care — a total estimate of $15,000. Although Walsh had insurance, the biller said the surgeon was not in any private insurance networks nor did he offer payment plans. Walsh ended up putting $14,472.35 on her and her mother's credit cards. Her health plan eventually paid the Fetal Institute $5,419.44. Walsh was later partially reimbursed but ultimately paid more than $13,000 out-of-pocket.

via NPR|
#emergency-care#healthcare#insurance
healthcare2 years ago

Hospital Sends 4-Year-Old to Collections After Billing for ER Visit

A 4-year-old boy was billed for an emergency room visit and then sent to collections, despite being insured through his father's employer, HCA Healthcare. The family was referred to a burn center by the emergency room doctor, who promised that they would not be billed. However, months later, the family received a bill from Envision Physician Services, the provider staffing service that employed the ER doctor. The family was unable to dispute some of the charges because the bills were addressed to the child, not the parents. The hospital eventually canceled the family's debt after being contacted by the media. Patients should ensure their name is listed as the responsible party when seeking medical care for a minor and document every interaction with debt collectors.

via OregonLive|
#debt-collection#emergency-room#healthcare
healthcare2 years ago

Medical billing nightmare: 4-year-old sent to collections after ER error.

A billing mistake by an in-network emergency room in Florida landed a 4-year-old boy in collections, despite his mother being insured through her husband's employer, HCA Healthcare. The stand-alone emergency room and ER doctor billed for the visit, even though the doctor referred the boy to another hospital for treatment. The mother disputed the charges but was unable to do so because the statement was in her son's name. After being contacted by KHN, Envision Physician Services waived the debt, and HCA Healthcare canceled the family's debt. Patients should ensure their name is listed as the responsible party when seeking medical care for a minor.

via NPR|
#collections#emergency-room#healthcare