RE: then stiffing the bill.
First the hospital is stuck and then the taxpayers and the citizens who pay for their own insurance plans-—now going way up in costs.
One memory of patients waiting for service. The Black Panther leader and convicted murderer Huey P. Newton once was shot and held the blood in with his hands, sitting on the hospital corridor floor because he didn’t have a California Health System card. Pre-internet age so another Panther had to go to get a record at home to get his treatment started. He made it just fine.
Nothing new. Several years ago, I had to have a procedure that insurance didn’t cover and was hit with double the cost. Finally had a gal in the billing office slip up saying it’s because foreigners don’t pay so someone has to pay their bills. Of course, we still had to pay the grand total.
Last time Mr. b went in for cataracts in one eye, he got charged for two. Insurance paid its part but we were still out of pocket. That argument went on forever. He’s ready now for the other eye so who knows how many eyes they’ll charge for this time.
Never forget - this all starts with EMTALA.