AboutMerry Schiff Expertise I am very familar with Medicare and general insurance questions. I can answer general questions about HMO's.
Experience I have been in the medical billing industry for 50 years. I have helped develop software for this industry. I am a consultant to billers and the medical profession.
Organizations I am the Executive Director of NEBA, a medical billing organization with nearly 1000 members.
Education/Credentials I have been teaching medical billing for many years as well as being a published author with Pearson Education. One book on medical billing (nearly 800 pages) and one on HIPAA.
Question QUESTION: Hi,
I am currently billed $243 for an E.R. visit, and I'm wondering if there is a way for me to cancel and/or reduce the charge since I haven't any treatment and/or services during my visit.
This is the story, about 3 weeks ago I got to the E.R. with a killing toothache, and asked to see a dentist.
The lady at the reception didn't mention the fact that they don't have dentists in the hospital at the time (it was around midnight), instead she just took my information and told me to sign all kinds of forms. As I answered her questions, I repeatedly asked how much will this visit cost me, and all she said was that it depends on the type of services I will need.
After 45 minutes of waiting a physician took a brief look at my tooth, and said that he doesn't know the cause for my toothache and that I should see a dentist as soon as I can (that was when I realized I won't see a dentist that night)
A few days later I received a bill for $85 which seemed outrageous because I haven't received any services or treatment, I still had to go see a dentist and pay for it. But I didn't want to make a fuss over $85. 2 weeks later I got another bill for $243 for the same visit. I called the number on the bill and it seemed impossible to convince them to cancel or reduce it.
My question is what can I do? do I have to pay it anyway? do I have to pay an unjustified bill? what would I do if they would bill me $5,000 for the visit? is there a consumer rights organization that can assist me with this issue?
Thank you for reading my long story... :-)
Eran.
ANSWER: When you signed the paperwork at the hospital, you said that you would pay the bill. The dr charged you only $85 for the visit which is very low for an ER visit even though he did not do anything. The other charge was for the ER room and facilities. You can call the hospital or ER billing office and see if you can negotiate the bill to make it less, but they billed you for the use of the room and seeing the dr whether they treated you or not.I know it is not what you wanted to hear but it is the true facts.
Merry
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your quick response,
I guess there's not much I can do now, I learned my lesson...
The only thing that bothers me is the way they hide there billing method, I repeatedly asked for a range of price for just visiting (without obtaining services) and they just wouldn't answer. Now I know it's $328 (243+85).
I just wish there were some kind of regulation over it, like car shops(they have to get your approval before they start fixing your car, otherwise you don't have to pay).
I guess I'm lucky, because it seems to me from your answer that they could bill me even $5,000 for the visit and there wouldn't be anything I can do about it.
Answer Actually, no. The fees can vary. You were obviously charged for a very limited visit. The person who you asked was absolutely correct. There is no way to tell you ahead of the visit what your charges will be. Trust me when I tell you that you got away "cheap".
