That’s absurd (and infuriating); did they pursue the bill? In our case I called them as soon as I got it, told them my wife hadn’t been treated, and it wouldn’t be paid; we never heard from them again.
The “charity care” reimbursement eventually doomed north Jersey’s hospitals because basically the state was continually cutting the amounts of reimbursement paid to the hospitals for such care; the state had become the main “client”, and as the payments were reduced the hospitals starting losing millions. Many closed, and those that are still open are jammed with illegals using the ER as “doctor visits” (since they can’t refuse to “stabilize” a person). Some friends were constantly getting hospital bills in their mail with various Spanish names; they were on a main street, and as near as they could figure the address was simply being written on some forms somewhere as the illegals were seeking treatment. The post office couldn’t stop them, but nobody was seeking to collect them, either - they were simply fictitious info (that would never be paid).
One way some got around this was by simply closing their emergency rooms; they still do all kinds of procedures there, but you bet every person walking in has an appointment (and legal residency, and means to pay, etc.). Those places are filled with Americans.
They did not pursue the bill. Ironically, I am now with that healthcare provider and they have never mentioned the incident. It wouldn’t matter if they did. As I said, they didn’t treat me and only had a dr see me to relieve themselves of liability. No treatment = no money due.