3 years ago, I was hit by a car (as a pedestrian - hit and run) and accumulated close to $20,000 in hospital bills. I didn't have health insurance as I was unemployed and couldn't get a job. I only found a job recently but never paid the debt because I didn't agree with the hospital bill since there were tons of bogus charges. I stupidly ignored the collection notices now an agency has it and I'm worried. I just found this forum and, as a result, I've done some things already: 1. called the collection agency to get a itemized bill from the hospital - in the process admitting the bill is mine but I do not agree with the charges and will be contesting them. 2. told them I was employed and where I have since received the med bills. I now plan on speaking with an attorney asap. Do you guys have any advice or plan of action? I want to pay this off but obviously can't pay it in full (they even tacked on tons of interest). How do I deal with this with the least amount of money being paid out? Please Help!
Write a demand to the hospital billing office for a UB 92 on your services while in hospital and don't get it or rely on the CA to provide this information to you. This demand should produce all billing charges, lab charges, and pharmacy line-by-line. Request your chart, notes, and complete medical history of your stay. If you're in FL or CA, healthcare information can't be forwarded to third parties for collection and some states have similar strict privacy standards. You need to review the entire billing. I recently reviewed the billing charges for one individual who had a minor ER visit. Out of a total of six charges, three were erroneous. The person was charged $36 for a shot *and* $22 for "administration" of the shot. (Problem was the individual never received a shot.) You have a right to have the hospital charges, line-by-line in English, not coding, and to see each charge. Hospital billings hover between a 85-95% error rate. Check. It's coming out of your pocket.
Thanks for the reply Always! I contacted the hospital and asked for a UB 92. Rep kept stating she can't send anything at this point, that only the collection agency can get access to any bills, etc. I asked her if they were collecting on their behalf or if they purchased the debt, she wouldn't give a straight answer and I get the idea that it was purchased. My question is - how do I get this info? Is she right, can only the collections agency request it now at this point? When I got my itemized bill it was from the agency with the cover letter "this is to collect a debt" blah blah blah - meaning they looked over everything before it got to me? Is this a violations of privacy laws? If I can't get the info from the hospital directly, I'm thinking I will have to wait until I get a lawyer because I fear I might misspeak if I call in and speak with the collections agency.
Send a CMRRR letter tomorrow and put the demand in writing to the hospital. Don't telephone - *write*. Write to the hospital billing department supervisor or manager. You can just address it to "ABC Hospital Att: Billing or Patient Services Manager..." As a patient, you are entitled to have an itemized billing and medical history from the hospital that treated you. Tell them precisely what you "require" in your letter. Keep it short, simple and direct. Since this is your personal medical history that you're requesting, you could include a notarized statement identifying who is requesting the information - you. Put your demand in writing and make them sign for it. And keep a copy. Prepate a large file folder to hold the letters, envelopes, and copies of letters sent. It's going to see quite a bit of action.
This may be a long shot......but check with your local city government and see if they have a "victim of crime's" fund. Our county has a program that will assist a crime victim with any medical bills that are incurred as a result of a crime, which, I'm assuming, a hit and run is. You will probably have to supply a police report and a statement along with the bills and it usually takes about 30 days to process your request. I hope your city/county has a program like this. Glad your okay.
Interesting.... Check your state government too. Some states maintain a special fund for crime victims and that'd be another avenue to explore.
