This doesn't seem like a normal charge... (hosp bill for birth)

kthappy76

So I finally got an itemized bill for our son's birth/hospital stay. He was 5 1/2 pounds and breech, but otherwise healthy and didn't need any NICU time. The bill includes two significant covered charges for newborn CPR and newborn resuscitation for his DOB. Anyone else see this on their bill? I haven't gotten one yet for our daughter, so i don't know if this is common or not. It's quite shocking to see in print since I was told everything was fine and he came out screaming, but then again I was pretty out of it with my very quick CS. TIA.

kafunder

That doesn't sound right. I'd call and try to dispute it or get to the bottom of the story. They make a lot of mistakes on hospital bills and often code things incorrectly.

pea-kay

This was on all three of the boys' hospital bills, and they needed no resusciation. I just assumed it was for clapping them on the back after birth or something. :P

pea-kay

just looking at linus's bill (they're all basically the same) and it says we (well, our insurance) paid $334 for "newborn resuscitation". No mention of CPR, though.

and they were never on oxygen or had any breathing issues like that, so i don't know exactly what it means.

cookiemonster03

I questioned it for our 5 lb DD (who did not go to the NICU w her 3.5 lb sister) and was told it was the coding for having the neonatal team present (due to their preterm status) at birth/doing prelim evals/etc. This is one charge our insurance, ironically, did not question.

kthappy76

Aha, that makes more sense, I knew you ladies would know. Thanks!

google123

I would think even "resucitation" probably just means they may have had a little flow of oxygen near him....not that he was not breathing and needed real resucitation.  But better call and ask!

GeauxTigers82

cookiemonster03:

I questioned it for our 5 lb DD (who did not go to the NICU w her 3.5 lb sister) and was told it was the coding for having the neonatal team present (due to their preterm status) at birth/doing prelim evals/etc. This is one charge our insurance, ironically, did not question.

Coming from someone who worked in a trauma Pediatric ER, I consider newborn CPR and resuscitation to be pretty dramatic and everyone in the room would know about it. It usually involves a tube down the throat for them to breathe, or at the least, a CPR mask pumping Oxygen.

That being said, the above post makes sense that they might charge that due to the "team" being present. Seems like a upcharge in the coding system though, but maybe that's just the way everyone charges it. I would still check, just to make sure it wasn't a mistake.

luckygirl07

I don't remember seeing anything like that on my bill, but I would call and ask.  I was charged for a circumcision for my DAUGHTER.  Called the hospital and had them audit her bill and they took it off.  Good thing I look at the itemized statement!