Why We are Here
During my career I have worked in a variety of settings. All over the hospital, I have worked in pediatrics, the burn unit, neuro, trauma, cardiac, surgical and medical intensive care units, as well as in the the emergency department. And mostly the patients were grateful for the care they received.
When they are lying in the hospital bed, costs and the bill aren’t upper most in their minds. In fact more often than not family members have told me to do everything you can for their loved one, not even considering the cost.
It is when they get home, weeks later, when they receive the bill that the surprise comes. And while most I am sure, feel they should pay a portion of the bill, some are completely flummoxed how a 3 day hospital stay can rack up tens of thousands of dollars.
No doubt you have heard stories about out of control costs and bills being sent to collections, they are easy to find online. And I can imagine the anxiety and sleepless nights some must feel, not being able to pay there debts.
So in keeping with the tradition of patient advocacy that nurses adhere to, this blog will examine some actual hospital and medical bills. Throughout the weeks ahead you will see how those bills may be overcharged or in error of 400% or more.
There are excellent resources on the internet including 10 Ways to Avoid Outrageous Hospital Overcharges. But I intend to provide more information and examples from the bills I have audited.
Follow along as hospital bills are examined, and in one case you can decide for yourself if the hospital billing and coding department was guilty of fraud.
Sunday, October 21st, 2007