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According to the National Coalition on Health Care Costs and the American Hospital Association:
- Health care spending in the United States will reach $4 trillion by 2010.
- Spending on health care has increased by 46% since 1998.
- Health care spending is 4.3 times national defense spending.
 Several factors contribute to this increase. According to the American Hospital Association, these factors include:
- Rising costs for goods and services hospitals need in order to provide care – This includes employee wages, benefits, drugs, medical devices, food, linens, and supplies.
- Higher demand for care – Chronic diseases and an aging population are using more hospital services.
- Increased intensity of care – More sophisticated treatment options and older, frailer patients dictate the need for more complex care.
CHECKING YOUR BILL
Always check your hospital bill. If it is in computer code or hospital jargon, ask for an itemized bill in “simple English.” Go over it carefully. Common billing errors are:
- Duplicate Billing – Make sure you are not being charged twice for the “same service, supplies or medications.”
- Number of Days in the Hospital – Make sure the dates of admission and discharge are accurate.
- Incorrect Room Charges – If you were in a semi-private room, make sure you are charged for a semi-private room and not a private room.
- Operating Room Time – Hospitals sometimes bill for more time than you used. Compare the hospital charge with the anesthesiologist's records.
- Up-Coding – “ Shifting the charge for a lower-cost service or medication to one that is more costly.” An example of this would be a doctor ordering a generic drug and the hospital billing you for a name brand.
- Keystroke Error – If a computer operator accidentally hits the wrong key, that error can cost you hundreds of dollars in incorrect charges.
- Canceled Work – Make sure you are not being charged for tests that were ordered and then canceled.
- Services Never Rendered – Keep a log of all services you receive in the hospital. Compare it to your hospital bill to make sure you are not being charged for services you did not receive.
 According to a recent MSN Money article:
- Some estimates of hospital overcharges are as high as $10 billion a year.
- Overcharges make up approximately five percent of hospital bills.
- The average overage is $1,300 per hospital stay.
If you have errors on your bill, contact the hospital's billing office and your insurer. If they are no help, contact the Consumer Protection Section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office at 614-466-4986 or your County Prosecutor's Office (visit the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association website for a list of Ohio County Prosecutors) or the Ohio Medical Board at 614-466-3934.
http://www.ag.state.oh.us
http://www.ohiopa.org
http://www.med.ohio.gov
IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING YOUR BILL
If you are having trouble paying your bill, contact your hospital's billing office. Many hospitals offer financial help to patients based on “income, expenses, and circumstances.” Some offer discounts to uninsured patients.
For more information, please visit www.ohiotreasurer.gov or call us at 1-800-228-1102. |
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