| I saw a study recently that said 97% of hospital bills | | | | thing to their attorney if you take this approach. |
| are incorrect. And those errors are almost never in the | | | | Instead, go into the meeting as if a good-natured |
| patient's favor. The average error, at least in this study, | | | | mistake has been made. Review the charges on your |
| was nearly $1,500. Think about that for a minute... | | | | bill with your doctor ask them to go through it line by |
| almost every bill is off by $1,500! That is incredible! | | | | line and explain it. Your doctor should be willing to do |
| I'm not the kind of person that listens to studies or | | | | this, but if they just won't budge and they aren't open |
| statistical data because I think you can find a study to | | | | to discussion or negotiation then you must take the |
| prove just about anything and statistics to prove just | | | | next step... |
| about anything. But in this case, even if you don't agree | | | | The next thing you want to do is contact your local or |
| with the exact numbers in the study, anybody that's | | | | regional medical or dental Society in writing. Sometimes |
| been to the hospital knows that billing errors are quite | | | | these organizations can set up arbitration between |
| frequent and can be quite large. | | | | you and the doctor which can save you the cost of |
| So what do you do if you find that you've been | | | | expensive legal fees if you were to sue them. Keep in |
| overcharged? The first thing you want to do is make | | | | mind one important thing, medical and dental Society's |
| an appointment to talk face-to-face with the actual | | | | work for the doctors - not you. They may be |
| doctor that worked on you. Your first instinct is going | | | | interested in "helping" if it will keep the doctors out of |
| to be to contact the hospital administrative staff, or the | | | | court, but they are more focused on that than actually |
| billing department. But that's the last thing you want to | | | | helping you. |
| do because normally they don't have any idea what | | | | If nothing else works you may have to sue. Small |
| services you received, only the doctor can speak to | | | | claims court is a good venue for these sort of |
| those issues. | | | | charges. You can file a small claims lawsuit without an |
| You may be mad, but don't go into the meeting angry. | | | | attorney. Basically you and the doctor simply go |
| Be calm, be courteous, and be open-minded. Try to | | | | before a judge and state your cases in ordinary |
| act with a little cooperation and try to keep the angry | | | | language. If the doctor cannot quantify the charges on |
| accusations down to nil, if at all possible. Doctors get | | | | your bill, a judge may throw them right out. |
| sued all the time, and this makes them very wary. | | | | No matter what, stand up for your rights. Just because |
| Don't go into the meeting guns blazing and tossing out | | | | they are a doctor doesn't give them the right to take |
| words like lawsuit or malpractice because this will shut | | | | advantage of you. Be courteous but be firm and you'll |
| the doctors communication lines down. They won't | | | | do just fine. |
| even discuss it with you, they'll just refer the whole | | | | |