MEDICAL BILLING NEWS

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

Archive - 2024, April

Bill to force Ohio hospitals to detail cost of services gets major changes in Senate

A bill to make hospitals publish the actual prices of their services passed the Ohio House in June with strong bipartisan support, but advocates say the Senate version has 'gutted' it

- The Columbus Dispatch

The medical debt shuffle: Allina sells overdue bills to itself to sue patients

Minnesota lawmaker wants to ban the practice of selling medical debt and incentivizing collectors to aggressively pursue patients.

- Star Tribune

We’re paying off medical debt wrong

- The Hill

Lawmakers tackle medical debt predicament

The legislation would give patients more time to repay medical debt and shield their income from forced collections.

- KARE 11

OPINION: The kind of surprise no one likes - a medical bill

- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Effort to curb hospital debt collection practices jumps first legislative hurdle at Capitol

In Colorado, hospitals often confuse people by suing patients for unpaid medical bills under the name of some other entity.

- 9 News

Illinois bill would bar agencies using medical debit in creating credit scores

Illinoisans may soon be able to keep their medical debt off their credit report.

- WGEM

Insurers Reap Hidden Fees by Slashing Payments. You May Get the Bill.

A little-known data firm helps health insurers make more when less of an out-of-network claim gets paid. Patients can be on the hook for the difference.

- New York Times

Bill would require Colorado hospital systems to sue patients under own name

One year after Colorado legislators tried to find out how often certain hospital systems sue patients, 9NEWS found they (and you) still don't know.

- 9 News

Medicare forced to expand forms to fit 10-digit bills—a penny shy of $100M

Previously, some doctors had to divide bills by 10 and submit 10 claims to get costs covered.

- Ars Technica

I Spent 2.5 Days In A US Hospital Giving Birth — Here's What The Bill For My C-Section Looks Like

- BuzzFeed

With Medical Debt Burdening Millions, a Financial Regulator Steps In to Help

Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, told KFF Health News that “everywhere we travel, we hear about individuals who are just trying to get by when it comes to medical bills.”

- KFF Health News

Emergency Physicians Decry Surprise Air-Ambulance Bills

- KFF Health News

Outpatient outrage: Hospitals charge fees for care at the doctor’s office

More patients are seeing extra “facility fee” charges on their medical bills

- U.S. PIRG Education Fund

Denver Patients Still Get Surprise Ambulance Bills Despite Laws Against Them

Emergency medical service providers, health care advocates and patients want to end balance billing, but the path is riddled with complications.

- Westword

Ambulance service in N.H. faces problems from big surprise patient bills to struggling companies

Ambulance service might be one of the most basic and important parts of the health-care system, but it’s also a financial mess in New Hampshire, both for patients and private companies.

- Concord Monitor