The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: franksolich on September 10, 2011, 07:36:05 PM
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x109046
Oh my.
bamboo harvester (21 posts) Sat Sep-10-11 06:50 PM
Original message
Anybody ever hire a lawyer to help lower an insane E.R. bill?
I have got an appointment for Tuesday and I was wondering if it's a good idea.
Ruby the Liberal (1000+ posts) Sat Sep-10-11 06:57 PM
Response to Original message
1. It never hurts to talk with an attorney
With Healthcare costs spiraling out of control, Lord knows they will bill for anything they can. If you have grounds to challenge it, do so.
Having said that, I recently challenged an ER bill. Called my insurance company and told them I was challenging the charges (double billed for some items) as well as the diagnosis (challenged by my Primary care Doc). Rather than call an attorney, I started with the patient advocate office at the hospital and escalated through them, and it looks like I got (or am about to get) everything I asked for - corrected medical records and corrected billing.
The seducing defrocked warped primitive:
Warpy (1000+ posts) Sat Sep-10-11 06:57 PM
Response to Original message
2. I put in an official consumer complaint to the state attorney general's office and copied documentation to back it up. I sent a copy of the letter and the documentation to Medicare since a hospital that stonewalls someone who has found obvious fraud probably has a systemic policy of padding bills.
It only took one nasty letter from the office to make them crumple and this mess had been going on for a year, complete with their trying to unload the bill onto a collection agency and my cluing the collection agency in that the bill was in dispute.
There was a subsequent Medicare investigation that found a pattern of fraud. The place got sold just a couple of months later and the new owners have been more honest.
My records are flagged. I know that because I get great deals just going in the door.
A lawyer who specializes in medical claims will likely have a nurse/paralegal in the office who will be able to tell you whether or not the bill is fraudulent. If not, the hospital will set up a payment plan if you convince them that is the only way they'll see a dime.
ER bills always look outrageous. What you'd want to look for is upcoding, charging for more service than you required, unbundling labs and other tests, and charging for phantom services you never received. The place that made the mistake of pissing me off did all of that.
Ruby the Liberal (1000+ posts) Sat Sep-10-11 07:01 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Good post. One thing to mention
Before I received a bill, I called the finance department to inquire as to what charges to expect (for budgeting). They offered to send me an itemized bill (like they send to the insurance company) and it was WAAAAAYYY more detailed than the final "bill" I received. I am glad they thought to offer - but even more that I now know to ask.
dixiegrrrrl (1000+ posts) Sat Sep-10-11 07:05 PM
Response to Original message
4. Sadly, we had no outpatient coverage when the local Er stuck us for a huge bill.
and complaining to hospital did not good.
On the other hand, the inpatient hospital portion of the bill was most reasonable, probably because INPATIENT was covered by our but Er is outpatient.
Now I realize that the hospital was more than aware we could complain to insurance about inpatient issues.
Curmudgeoness (1000+ posts) Sat Sep-10-11 07:11 PM
Response to Original message
5. Getting advice from a lawyer is not a bad idea, but have you tried to work with the ER billing department first? Have you asked if there is any leeway on it? Sometimes, they will work with you. I am not sure if they will be less likely to do so if a lawyer is involved.
But if you have done this and hit a brick wall, a lawyer may be able to help, or at least can tell you if there is anything they can do. Is there anything illegal about the billing?
At least, if you bring a lawyer into this, you can possibly protect yourself against those pesky bill collectors who would sooner or later get the bill if you cannot pay it.
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Seems that the lawyer fees would likely offset any potential hospital fee reductions that they might receive. Plus, most hospitals will work with patients who honestly can't afford their bill.
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Seems that the lawyer fees would likely offset any potential hospital fee reductions that they might receive. Plus, most hospitals will work with patients who honestly can't afford their bill.
Yep!
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Had a heart scare a few years ago. The ER charged me $5 for one baby asprin.