A week or so ago I posted about a lady visiting in this town from another country.
I saw her Sunday at church and she gave me an update of her hospital experience.
She was on a visa so went to a community health center.
Her heart rate was low so sent her to ER in the local hospital.
The doctor on duty from an African country could not understand Spanish when she tried to tell him that she had forgotten to take her medicine.
Since he could not understand what she was saying he ordered out several very expensive test from Radiology and the lab.
He was as they say doing some very nice CYA.
The lady was released from ER after about 5 hours.
A few days later she got a call from the finance office at the hospital asking when she could make a payment on her bill.
The bill amounted to more than $5,500 and later was increased another $2,250 for a total of $7,750 for the 5 hour stay.
Of course $7,750 dollars is more money than she has seen in years and couldn’t pay.
The hospital sent her to Medi-Cal and they agreed to pay for the entire cost.
The funny thing is that she only needed to take the medicine prescribed for her condition but due to catch 22 factors ended up in a financial bind.
As for the patient stealing it does happen and lots of American doctors are aware that it happens.