Why is it that a hospital will charge 1,200 for a $24 treatment?

Question

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I went to the hospital yesterday with a bacterial infection in my leg, which I still have. While I was there, I was told "they don't have to treat me" because I don't have money. They also prescribed me an antibiotic which I can not afford, $35 a dose, and two medications I do not need, but refused to give me pain medication. I tried to reason that with compress and pain management (vicodin $0.17 a pill, vs $35) that my decision for a course of treatment was financial. I have no money, I would much rather spend 15 on food, 15 on pain meds and wait it out.

Then, they have the audasity to violate HIPPA rules stating that they will turn me into collections and share my info with everyone.

I asked , "what about the hipocratic oath", to which they replied, "it is only an oath." I guess that says it all about Doctors and insurance. Anyone else have this situation?

Answer 1

It isn't even about the Doctors anymore. They have given the business away to Insurance companies. Many are leaving the profession, so they do not have to turn away patients that they promised to help.

It seems silly, but you really should work a little harder, so you can have heath insurance. You might find a plan that can help future injuries and illness. Keep looking.

Answer 2

First, they will possibly turn you into collections, but they will not share your information with anyone because HIPAA is a law and you can sue them (and successfully win). A lot of hospitals are wary of giving out pain meds when asked for them specifically because people who are addicted to drugs will frequent emergency rooms (since there is usually little followup and no access to previous records).

It really is all about insurance. My recommendation to you is to contact the health department and see if they have a free clinic you can go to. Also your city may have more than 1 hospital. If your hospital was private, they can turn you away, if it is a government run hospital, they cannot refuse treatment. period.

Anyway, you actually need to get the infection part cleared up. Within a day or so the pain will stop once you get on an antibiotic. Call the health department so you can get well.

Answer 3

In fact, you should be all too happy that the hospital did not just prescribe pain meds, as that would not have solved the problem at all, and a viral infection, if given the proper anti-biotics, will stop hurting faster, than will a pain med, which is designed to relieve pain by relaxing the muscle, which will do nothing for a topical irritation

Answer 4

OK, let's begin with the why they charge what they do. Here are 3 reasons... there are more, but these ought to be enough.

1. Every patient that passes through the hospital costs money in insurance carried by the hospital. Since the people passing through are already sick, some even fatally, this insurance is IMMENSE! Generally, if a person dies, every family member tries to find some way to sue the hospital. Forget the fact that he had 8 bullet holes from the botched drive by he tried. This insurance causes a HUGE skyrocket in what you pay. I would go so far as to say half your bill was this insurance.

2. How long were you in there? I am sure that although you only saw 2 or 3 people... really, about 8 were working on your case. That doesn't even count the people who prepped your room after you left (It has to be sterilized). Let's assume that they make an average of $20 per hour (about right for a large hospital)... 8 by 20... $160 per hour. You were probably there for 3 hours... $480.

3. Now, there are the medical tests and medication you received.

That should explain the cost.

Now, concerning your treatment. If you are truelly worried about the cost, then why didn't you get the injection? Injection is SOP for indigent patients. In other words, when you said you couldn't afford care, they should have given you an injection... not pills. Pills are a luxury for those who can pay.

Lastly, the bill has no HIPPA regulations associated with it. Turning over your debt to a collections agency does not involve turning over your medical history... and the collection agency doesn't care. HIPPA only involves keeping your medical history confidential. Your hospital is NOT violating HIPPA by turning you over to a collection's agency.

Now, the doctors have honored the Hipocratic Oath.
"ÅEAR by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art.

I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.

While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!"

Your doctors left you better than you came in. They treated you to the best of their abilities and have done you no intentional harm. They did not ask you to commit suicide nor did they provide you the means. They have not released your medical records as per HIPPA. Your doctors did their jobs.

Answer 5

They may have thought you were only after the Vicodin. Which in their defense it sounds like was the only option you wanted to hear. That is a textbook example of someone who is addicted to painkillers. So even if you really were interested in only relieveing your pain, they had every right to grill you for only trying to get a prescription pain med.
That's what Motrin and Tylenol are for.

Answer 6

Medical expenses have increased due to the multiple layers of bureaucracy between you and the doctor. All of these millions of workers who do nothing but pass paper from one layer to another must be paid. The doctors and hospitals must charge much more for their services so they will get what the insurance says they should charge.

Answer 7

Every patient is a potential litigant. Hospitals and e.r. docs pay $hundreds of thousands in malpractice insurance premiums. That money comes from the potential litigants. If you want to stop this, work for tort reform.

Answer 8

Well, I've never had that happen...but my guess is they thought you were a drug seeking slacker.

Oh, and the oath has nothing to do with sharing your info, it means "first do no harm"

so giving you pain meds instead of antibiotics would actually violate that.

Answer 9

this is the hospitals way of collecting on the free medical care that they have to furnish. it also is their way of making a profit which they use to pay their employees, etc. i don't know what state you live in but some states have a law that as long as you pay a minimum amount each month (in my state it is $10.00) then they can't turn you over to collections.

Answer 10

My mom went into the hospital for some surgery, and she took her pills with her...they gave her her own pills every day, but charged her as though the pills had come from their own dispensary.