The nerve of the medical field.....


The_Kat

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Mom just called me in tears saying that OU Medical Center has called her twice today already hounding for payment towards dads medical bills. They have medical insurance, but moms on disability, and dad doesn't make much. Obviously they are going to have their hands full with this bill, and I plan to help with it, but to honestly wait a week while my dad is still in the hospital and hound her for payment???? To say I'm pissed is an understatement.....I just talked to the financial people yesterday and told them mom n dad would need counseling and a payment plan to be laid out to pay off the medical bills. I don't see how they can ask for anything other than an emergency room co pay as his treatment is still ongoing......:mad::bang::angry:

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It really is amazing how they do Kyle. Would be a lot less headache if the hospital could handle all of it and send you one bill, but unfortunately it does not work that way. They bill everything out where you don't know if you are coming or going, can get very confusing to say the least. We have not had any high pressure problems, but we have had problems with billing and multiple billing/duplicate billing. You have to stay on top of medical bills, I absolutely hate dealing with insurance companies and medical issues.

Sorry to hear they are giving your mother grief, I would probably give them an earful. Don't guess I have heard of a billing office for a hospital calling this soon, however I did have to pay for our first daughter before they would let me leave the hospital with her.

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it is a mess. i work in the back end office in the healthcare field. medicare and medicaid dont pay much so they depend on regular insurance to pick up he majority. Charity is huge....many people either do not have insurance or just dont pay. I am not sure how they can be calling about payment right now.... there is no way a bill dropped with him still in the hospital. Just make sure they see the financial counselar and I would talk to someone in administrattion/PATIENT SATISFACTION and tell them how unhappy you are and you want your patient satisfaction survey when he is discharged....they are scored on patient satisfaction and i would take that and roll with it.

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The whole system sux big time. I was in the ER back in Dec when my mother in law broke her neck. They were hounding me for a car ins claim number before she even got out of the ER. They said they couldnt bill medicaid till her car policy paid off. Last thing I was worried about at the time was the freakin bill. :mad:

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They're just doing their job. They deal with angry folks all the time. How's the saying go? You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

It's too bad you can't pay the docs directly. It would be a lot easier to fork over money to the guy or gal that just saved your dad's life, eh?

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That's absurd! I usually have to wait a couple of weeks before I start getting my bills and if they have insurance then it takes longer for me to get my bills. The way the medical field is going its going to bankrupt people that are really trying to make it. I usually ask for an itemized statement as well because I tell them that I dont agree with the bill and they usually knock a bunch off of it.

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it is a mess. i work in the back end office in the healthcare field. medicare and medicaid dont pay much so they depend on regular insurance to pick up he majority. Charity is huge....many people either do not have insurance or just dont pay. I am not sure how they can be calling about payment right now.... there is no way a bill dropped with him still in the hospital. Just make sure they see the financial counselar and I would talk to someone in administrattion/PATIENT SATISFACTION and tell them how unhappy you are and you want your patient satisfaction survey when he is discharged....they are scored on patient satisfaction and i would take that and roll with it.
Yeah, it's really odd that there is any type of bill while a patient is still admitted. We generate our bills AFTER a patient has been discharged. Is the bill actually from the hospital where he currently is?

And the reason the billing is so convulted is government regulations. In order to get reimbursed from Medicare/Medicaid the doctor and hospital have to jump through all kinds of hoops.

And most hospitals actually get paid for somewhere around 65% of the services they provide. You try running a company and have 1/3 of your customers walk off without paying!

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And most hospitals actually get paid for somewhere around 65% of the services they provide. You try running a company and have 1/3 of your customers walk off without paying!

This is probably the single largest factor for why the rates are so rididculous for those of us who do have to pay!!!!!!:angry::angry:

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This is probably the single largest factor for why the rates are so rididculous for those of us who do have to pay!!!!!!:angry::angry:

Exactly.................Tell me why my appendix surgery was over $41,000 for me being a total of 17 hours in the hospital. I realize I had surgery but dang.............:hammer1:

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I have seen and paid so many hospital/doctor bills it is crazy!

Now I am on Medicare and also have Tricare. I don't pay for anything other than one prescription a month and it costs me $3.00 a month. Finally I am not paying out thousands of $$$$$$$$ all the time!

Wait until Obama gets his "health plan" through! What a bunch of crap!

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I feel for your family, as I battle this for years.

Thank the Lord I can go to the VA hospitals for care, and even then, I'm on a payment plan, and if late, the Treasury deducts it out of my S.S. disabilty. They also take alot more out then my monthly bill is !! I pray everything will work out good for your family when this is all over. :(

Mike

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it is a mess. i work in the back end office in the healthcare field. medicare and medicaid dont pay much so they depend on regular insurance to pick up he majority. Charity is huge....many people either do not have insurance or just dont pay. I am not sure how they can be calling about payment right now.... there is no way a bill dropped with him still in the hospital. Just make sure they see the financial counselar and I would talk to someone in administrattion/PATIENT SATISFACTION and tell them how unhappy you are and you want your patient satisfaction survey when he is discharged....they are scored on patient satisfaction and i would take that and roll with it.

Good advice. Go right to the Hospital Administrator!!!!!

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