RICK Gundling,Vice President of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, which represents health-care finance executives, recently reported that at least half of all hospitals nationwide now charge upfront ER fees, the Washington Post reported a few days ago.
Last year, the nation’s largest for-profit hospital chain, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), reportedly had about 80,000 emergency-room patients leave without treatment after being told they would have to first pay $150 because they did not have a true emergency.
Hospital officials say the upfront payments are a response to mounting bad debt caused by the surge in uninsured and underinsured patients, and to lower reimbursements by some private and government insurers for patients who use the ER for routine care. “It has been a successful part of helping to reduce crowding in emergency rooms and to encourage appropriate use of scarce resources,” HCA spokesman Ed Fishbough said in the Post article.
According to the report, the uninsured pay upfront fees as high as $350, depending on the hospital; while those with insurance pay their normal co-payment and deductible upfront.
Doctors are concerned that sick people who leave the ER for lack of money will forego treatment, while patient advocates say the policy can discourage patients from going to the ER for true emergencies.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek Feb 22-24, 2012 Sec A pg. 5)
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