I know I should be smart enough to understand medical bills. But apparently I am not.
You would think that with a somewhat simple outpatient procedure, for which I produced my insurance card and paid a right healthy copayment, I could be provided with one or two bills for anything left owing that my insurance didn't cover. You'd think.
Shortly after I underwent the pain block injection for my back last month, I began receiving bills from various and sundry providers: radiology, anesthesiology (I think I got a couple from this one) outpatient clinic, doctor's office, hospital.
Each of the bills had multiple entries with either a debit or a credit, none of which I could make either heads or tails. But in most cases, the amount I was left owing was piddling, so I would just write a check, put the bill stub in the income tax file, and go on with life.
But I was giving it some thought yesterday, thinking I should gather all those stubs and make sure, if possible, that I didn't pay something twice or pay for anything I didn't get. That was my plan for this afternoon.
Then after quilt bee this morning, I stopped by my mailbox before pulling into the garage, and what was there for me but a hefty check from the hospital, which by quick calculation, amounts to at least as much, maybe more, than I've paid out for all those piddling bills. No explanation as to what the check was for either. Just like none of the bills gave any explanation about what the charges represented--well maybe there were explanations, but if so, they were in code. The check doesn't even have any code that might indicate why I received it.
I understand that medical billing is a profession which requires technical knowledge for which one receives training.
Perhaps people who are required to read what these well trained professionals put on those bills should also receive training. But then they'd probably send another bill for that, which I also wouldn't be able to understand.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 08/05/2013, judi0044 said ...
It's crazy isn't it Susan. When I had thyroid cancer treatments I tried to pay a bill and was refused. The billing office said they couldn't accept my payment because they didn't know what I owed. I held the check because I knew it would come back to bite me. Yep, a few months later I was sent to a 'car' repo office the hospital used for collections. I found out the hospital uses outside billing parties and never seem to know what you owe. Needless to say I wrote to the then president of the hospital detailing the poor service and my mistaken path diagnosis which said I was dying. I'm still here, the president is gone, and I never see any statements from them.
On 08/06/2013, Beverly said ...
Any attempt to understand medical billing is guaranteed frustration. I have a cousin who does coding, and she is always stressed to the max about work.
On 08/06/2013, Barbara Anne said ...
It is intentional hyroglyphics, in my humble medical opinion (as a nurse). When I worked in surgery we had to note how long the incision was if a mole or skin cancer was being removed because the billing code was different for incisions of different lengths.
You can call the hospital and all other billing agents to request itemized bills and they should arrive written in plain English. If any are still confusing, call and ask questions. You have a right to understand what is being paid for.
Hugs!
On 08/06/2013, Pat said ...
I totally understand this. You aren't the only one!
On 08/06/2013, Pat said ...
PS When I worked, our retirees would bring in sacks of Medicare bills and EOBs and ask me to sort it out. Which I did gladly and after sometimes hours of trying to demystify would get some kind of sense from them. Now I'm having to try to do this for myself. It is still a mystery.
On 08/06/2013, Sheryl Colle said ...
Oh, I hear your frustration. Once you join the Medicare-brigade, you'll never again be able to decipher those mounds of papers that seem to come far too often. I never pay anything unless there is a tear-off stub that says, "You owe _______" and has an address to send it to. Sometimes hi-tech causes a multitude of confusion. Hope you took that check and bought some fabric! :)
On 08/06/2013, Kai said ...
Hi, Barbara! I wish I'd consulted YOU earlier. I have not disclosed this until now because it's just been a real ordeal, but I was mugged a short while back & hurt quite badly. THAT'S one of many reasons I haven't been interacting with everyone as much as usual. I'm okay now - still a bit shaky when I go out - but getting better physically. At any rate, I had to go to the ER because the guy hit me in the head with his gun (12 stitches but better than SHOOTING me) then when he realized I wasn't lying & really DIDN'T have any $$ with me, he hit me HARD in the face and cracked my cheekbone. I had a bill the size of Texas & have paid ALL of it, or I THOUGHT I had. Now I am getting a multitude of miscellaneous 'smaller' bills for services I never even knew existed. I WILL insist they itemize ALL services I supposedly received so I will know what I'm killing my fool self editing to pay off. I refuse to owe ANYONE a penny, but this is never-ending! Susan, my sweet friend, forgive this overlong comment on your blog!
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