Hospitals suck

[NASCAR]

My mom just got out of having a heart cath done, they can't find out why she is having episodes of high blood pressure 210/140 and then dropps to 110/60. They found nothing in the heart cath and renal cath. Then while she is in recovery in the cardiac unit some assclown comes in and asks how she is going to pay 1500.00 upfront to stay the night in observation, that her status has changed from critical to observation. Medicare might not pay and they need the unpaid portion upfront. Good thing I was not there or they would have needed a crash cart. Now my blood pressure is up.

[SkidMark]

tell her to answer in a diff language...unreal on the hospital's part.

[billius]

It seems unreal, but the hospital down in Lower Alabama, did the same thing when my late wife Patt was in the hospital trying to recover from chemo that went wrong, a month or so before she died.

[local16]

That's about as wrong as it can get. I have never heard of that and never hope to..I hate it that anyone has to go throught that in that situation..

[cougarcat22]

Terrible

[bgibson53]

If she is under a doctors' order to stay, I don't think some dumbass clerk has much say.

[Hardhead1]

Don't know what good it would do but, I'd get their name and file a complaint with the hospital's CEO.

[lakefolk]

id tell them that when they have a hard number as to exactly what the insurance dont cover then we'll talk. until then, stay the hell away from mom..

[jettdog68]

Id tell them, when they are done Practicing and can fix the problem then you will pay the bill

[john tr 21]

its called OBAMA CARE !!!!!!!! people who dont work and contribute nothing get all the free health care they want and pay nothing if they need surgery because WE PAY IT FOR THEM !!!!!!!!!!!

[wildturkey]

That is terrible.

[BP in ME]

That sux! I'd be mad too. Health care is big business.

[kybaitcaster211]

If she is on mind altering medications, nothing she does is legal. Ask to see the administrator on call. They are all the same my friend and I work for one.

[1781ccT]

It has nothing to do with ObamaCare. It's simply a crappy change in the paradigm. Ever since I can remember, the provider served the patient, billed insurance, then sent a bill to the patient for the unpaid balance. Co-pays might (or might not) be charged on date of visit.

Hospitals are changing billing practices because of how much money they were losing on non-payers. 70% of our hospital clientele is on either medicare or Medicaid. Shrinking reimbursements for those means our ability to survive is negatively impacted that much more. We operated in the negative for a few years before being bought for a for-profit system.

We never chased patients or family members down the hallway looking for payment until we came under new ownership. Now, they'll even chase down employees who are in their way to being admitted for their money. It sucks from a customer service and community image point of view, but I see their side they have to get paid in order to continue to stay open.

[ChrisH]

the sad part of the whole deal is that our seniors are still responsible for bills while they are on medicare when able bodied lazy asses who wont get a job are not responsible for anything if their kids are on medicaid.

[Bassngolfer]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 1781ccT &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">It has nothing to do with ObamaCare. It's simply a crappy change in the paradigm. Ever since I can remember, the provider served the patient, billed insurance, then sent a bill to the patient for the unpaid balance. Co-pays might (or might not) be charged on date of visit.

Hospitals are changing billing practices because of how much money they were losing on non-payers. 70% of our hospital clientele is on either medicare or Medicaid. Shrinking reimbursements for those means our ability to survive is negatively impacted that much more. We operated in the negative for a few years before being bought for a for-profit system.

We never chased patients or family members down the hallway looking for payment until we came under new ownership. Now, they'll even chase down employees who are in their way to being admitted for their money. It sucks from a customer service and community image point of view, but I see their side they have to get paid in order to continue to stay open.</td></tr></table>

Perhaps the "for profit" system should focus more attention on the "non payers" than those WITH insurance in their efforts to "stay open". "Obama Care" certainly is not in full swing...BUT President Obama himself should be able to see that his "ideals" cannot work just by an example such as your's. The "paradigm" you speak of? That's hospitals and health care providers in general ramping up their collection system in front of the impending doom of "Obama Care"...

[teeboy]

Hospitals had to cahnge their policy because of.........(fill in blank).

NOT because of people who do pay...so WTF do we do except close the friggin' borders!

[omcforever]

Probably happened at Kettering,,,,mom had one 2 years ago and the same thing.

[dbastian]

Prayers for you and your family that they can identify her problem and get her fixed up.

[StratosBrad]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by dbastian &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Prayers for you and your family that they can identify her problem and get her fixed up. </td></tr></table>

Best post in thread^