Yet another way Private Equity is screwing us.
One woman was charged $26,000 for a battery of allergy tests that normally cost $800-$1,800, all without ever setting foot in a hospital.
intercst
6 Likes
iirc, a law was passed a few years ago, banning āsurprise billingā. When I went in for my checkup last month, one thing on the Docās list for the lab was one test that Medicare does not cover. So I was shown a form informing me I may be billed no more than $37 for that test.
Did the Shinies already repeal that law?
Steve
2 Likes
No, thatās an indication that the law is in effect. The are telling you what the charge will be. Before you would not have known until you received the bill and it was too late to deny the service.
Wendy
3 Likes
No. Medicare has very strong protections against price gouging. Itās only a problem in pre-age-65, unlimited price gouging, for-profit healthcare.
The form you got is an Advance Benefit Notification (ABN) The provider must notify you in writing if there is a chance a procedure might not be covered and its cost, and give you the opportunity to decline the test or procedure. I get one of these letters about 1/3 of the time I go for lab work. I always tell them to. āDelete that test, and Iāll come back when everyone agrees on what the correct billing codes are.ā Lab work is all supposed to be 100% cost-free to me, if done correctly.
intercst
2 Likes
GASP!!! The BURDEN that must put on the āJCsā! Surely this will be āreformedā away?
/sarcasm
Steve
Apparently the killing of Brian Thompson has not deterred other healthcare & hospital CEOs from screwing their insureds/patients. Their mantra is āShow me the money!ā.
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At one point, my UNH was about 70 points underwater. Then uncle sugar threw money at the for-profit insurance companies. Now Iām up 50 points.
As we said last November, ābuckle upā.
Steve
1 Like