A Boring Dystopia

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US patients charged for ‘hospital facility fees’ – even if they don’t set foot in one (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 5 months ago by obnoticus@adultswim.fan to c/aboringdystopia@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/16364128

Hospitals adding charge to bills from doctors’ offices, outpatient surgical clinics and diagnostic centers they own

Hospitals are gobbling up doctor’s offices – and they’re bringing higher prices to patients when they do, even if a patient never sets foot on a hospital campus.

Enter the “hospital facility fee”: a charge hospitals can add to bills from doctors’ offices, outpatient surgical clinics and diagnostics centers that they own, rebranding them as “outpatient hospital departments”, even if the facility is miles from a hospital campus.

“It’s one of the most egregious examples of hospital financing at the expense of consumers,” said Liz Hagan, director of policy solutions at the United States of Care, a non-profit advocacy group that released a new report on the practice.

The report, “Behind the Bill” argues that “hospitals are at the center of a massive market failure”, where consolidation is driving price hikes for patients.

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[–] Saganaki@lemmy.one 8 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Add my stories to your list.

My 3 yo son got diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma and had surgery to remove a chunk of his spinal cord (that’s where the tumor was). He finished his first round of chemo and was scheduled to do some in-patient PT at a facility 0.2 miles away from the hospital he was in.

Ambulance ride duration: 30s
Ambulance cost: $6000
Insurance coverage: $500

I straight up said “send it to collections. I don’t care. My son has cancer.” They fought for 6 months before going down to $250. I gave in.

Another: There’s a medication you take to cause your marrow to produce white blood cells quickly (the downside is that your bones feel like your burning—at least that’s how my son described it at 3 years old). This medication saves money in the long term since it means fewer ER visits for a cancer patient.

Coverage denied. Every. Time. Appealed every time, and got it covered. I probably spent close to 20 hours on calls & on hold just to get it covered for each treatment (~50 weeks I think?).

I make decent money (by my area’s standards) have very good insurance through my work, too. Despite all that, I had to dip into retirement & college funds to pay for various treatment. Hit out of pocket maximum every time and they always find something to deny.

It was fucking exhausting. Still is with ongoing issues and regular scans. He’s clear (so far) but man, fuck paid health insurance.