Helping Patients Diagnose Medical Bills

With the spiraling costs of medical bills, it's never been more important to check every bill you receive, especially if you or a family member have spent some time in a hospital.

Mistakes on hospital bills are running rampant.

Here are some of the more common billing abuses.

1. Excessive charges for the admission process.
2. Charged for a private room when you stayed in a semi-private room or being charged for a private room when a semi-private was not available.
3. Charges for medication when you turned it down or it was not prescribed by your doctor.
4. A number of tests grouped under a broad bill. Each test should be itemized.
5. Charges for personal items such as toothpaste, combs and slippers usually covered in the room charge.
6. Duplicate billing. Make sure you haven't been charged twice for the same service supplies or medications.
7. And the number of days in the hospital. Check the dates of your admission and discharge. Were you charged for the discharge day?

Be sure to check carefully. It's better to find errors early!

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