Just got a $400 bill from the ER and was never seen!!!!

Luckie519

Several weeks ago, I had to leave work due to severe abdominal / back pain.  I also had other symptoms, but will leave out the details.

My DH took me to our local ER, where we were checked in.  45 minutes after we arrived, I was pulled back into a small room, where they asked me about 5 questions, took my temp, and blood pressure and I was told they would call me as soon as a bed was available (was not in there for more than 5 minutes).

Five hours later, we were still sitting in the waiting room.  I finally went up to ask if we were even close to being called, he said I had two ahead of me.  Two more hours (for a total of seven), we were still sitting there.  We went to the front desk to say we were leaving.

I just got home to find a $400 bill from the hospital! I received no care.  I never even was seen by a doctor.  I spent seven hours in the ER, in pain.  I know they pulled me back for 5 minutes, and took some vitals, but there is no way in hell I am paying them $400 for that!  I tried calling them and also my insurance, but of course it is not within normal business hours, so I have to wait for 8am (it's a little after 7 am here).

Has this ever happened to anyone?  Do you think this is even right?  I am hoping to get it resolved once they open, but I am not paying them $400!!!

klondikebar

What are the itemizations? I'm guessing the bill would be a lot more if you were seen and had more tests run.

LoCarb

This happened to us but not in the ER for the regular pedi dr. H waited around 2.5 hrs and DD was never seen. He ended up taking her to an urgent care. I called and complained and they took off the drs visit and replaced it w/ a nurses visit fee.  The office mgr refunded my co-pay but then weeks later I was mailed a bill for the co-pay. If I saw a nurse, I had to have a co-pay.

I agree w/ PP's, request an itemized bill. Don't be surprised if they exchange one fee for another fee (like in my case).

ktshoff

Call the hospital's medical records department and have them fax/email your records of that visit.  Contact your insurance company and tell them that you would like to dispute this charge and send them your records proving that you were not seen by a MD. 

Also, is there an ER procedure code on the bill?  Ie, 99281, 99284, etc.?  These can only be submitted if you were consulted by an ER doc.  That would be fraud if they coded that!!

*I code for ER doctors!

luckylauren14

My advice to call and complain. Get a hold of anyone you can talk to and make your argument.

We took DS to the ER in October - we were there for 3 hours, he had his vitals taken and then a nurse looked at a cut on his eyelid and determined he didn't need stitches and sent us on our merry way. Well, a month later we get a $1000 bill. I called the hospital because I felt the treatment did not merit paying $1000 and they essentially told me there was a flat fee ($850) just to walk into the ER. I told them they need to post that at check-in... anyway, I was able to negotiate it to 50% of the bill - still ridiculous, but better than nothing.

I have learned in the meantime to go to an urgent care facility over an ER in the future. What makes me angry is if it had been during normal business hours, I would have taken him to his pedi and paid a $35 copay... 

Smootchy

my first response: be thankful you didn't get seen, could you imagine how much the bill would be then?!

all kidding aside, medical bills are total bs. Agree to get itemized list. GL

violaplayer

ktshoff:

Call the hospital's medical records department and have them fax/email your records of that visit.  Contact your insurance company and tell them that you would like to dispute this charge and send them your records proving that you were not seen by a MD. 

Also, is there an ER procedure code on the bill?  Ie, 99281, 99284, etc.?  These can only be submitted if you were consulted by an ER doc.  That would be fraud if they coded that!!

*I code for ER doctors!

 

She gives good advice. Definitely get your records and an itemized copy of your bill. Your insurance company may also have a claims dispute/fraud department who can assist you.

 ViolaPlayer, RHIA, CCS 

NerdyMama2

Get an itemized one. That's terrible!

marchbaby

They bill for everything!  My son was seen at the ER twice in one night.  They failed to do anything the first time and he was extremely lethargic (I could barely wake him), and crying out in pain.  We paid the copay and went home the first time.  A few hours later he started complaining of other symptoms so we went back to the ER.  This time they again did nothing (except give him a popsicle and tylenol).  I got a bill in the mail for it.  I called the hospital where I was told they did treat my son.  I explained a 250.00 copay for a dose of tylenol and a popsicle was a bit extreme. The doctor didn't even do another full exam. I called my insurance to dispute it figuring at the very least they wouldn't want to pay it and would fight the charges for me.  They said they would not fight it, and would just pay it.  I didn't want to pay another co-pay so I did write a letter to the hospital, including the fact that the following day we went to the pediatrician where his doctor was horrified that they didn't do anything when they saw him, did xrays and admitted him for pneumonia.  They dropped the charges.

Same hospital, I was seen and given an IV for a stomach virus type thing.  I went home and a few hours later had extreme pain up my arm and across my chest.  Went back to the ER, was told they "hit something" while putting the IV in.  Again, they tried to charge me two visits, again I fought it and won.   

This hospital is not known for great care, but all other hospitals are at least 45 minutes away.  Our pediatrician has told us never to take our kids there again...