MEDICAL BILLING NEWS

Keep abreast of news and information on medical billing and its impact on patients and consumers.

2024, July

Plan to end exorbitant ‘surprise’ ambulance bills heads to Congress

Committee to recommend patients should pay no more than $100 or 10% of a bill, depending on which is less

- The Guardian

How providers avoid complying with the No Surprises Act

- The Association for Health Care Journalists

Her hearing implant was preapproved. But she still received multiple $139,000 bills

Caitlyn Mai underwent cochlear implant surgery with her insurer's approval, expecting it would be covered in full. Then she started getting bills for $139,000.

- NPR

New Hampshire expands ‘No Surprises’ medical billing law

- The Laconia Daily Sun

The secret 'shame' of medical debt nearly crushed her. Then this Kansas artist fought back.

Emeline Fuller, a Kansas artist who channeled her angst over medical debt into her work, has become an advocate for medical debt reform.

- Kansas Reflector

Ventura County hospital costs frustrate patients: 'How do you charge that much money?'

In the world of hospital pricing, some numbers resemble Monopoly currency.

- Ventura County Star

Medical debt carries less weight on credit reports. But it's still a burden for consumers

The share of people with medical debt in collections that shows up in their credit reports has fallen in the past decade, according to the Urban Institute.  Yet the median medical debt in collections increased in that time.

- CNBC

You Could Pay More For Healthcare With Insurance Than Without

Chelsi Ross was insured when she had to go to the ER for chest pain. Yet even after the "negotiated  discount" from her insurer was applied to her bill, it was still higher than what uninsured patients were charged. She is still paying off the bill four years later.

- Forbes

Why medical debt shouldn’t affect credit scores

- CALPIRG

Facility fees can skyrocket your medical bills. Here's what you can do

Facility fees are a hospital's charges for outpatient or doctor services provided in an office not owned by that doctor, and the out-of-pocket amount can be costly.

- WRTV

Some Surprises in the No Surprises Act

A law to protect individual patients from sky-high medical bills has already helped millions of Americans but may result in higher health insurance premiums for all.

- ProPublica

Surprise – it’s $4,178 more: Couple struggle with unexpected hospital bill, hope for more transparency from systems

The family received an emergency room hospital bill with a $4,178 charge they were not expecting from PeaceHealth while Nicci Silva was pregnant.

- The Columbian

The State of Medical Debt in the U.S.

"I knew the surgery would put me in a financial hole, but I had no idea how deep," Jonathan Kershaw

- The Columbus Dispatch