More Hospitals Ask For Up-Front Payments, Increase Collection Efforts
Hospital companies say the more aggressive bill collection is necessary because "they can't afford to let even the smallest bills go unpaid" as the cost of care rises and "patients are responsible for paying more of their own medical bills," according to the Tennessean. Unpaid medical bills increased from $17.5 billion in 1995 to $28.8 billion in 2005, which corresponded with an increase in medical bills paid out-of-pocket by patients from $146.3 billion to $249.4 billion over the same time period.
However, patient advocates "say the practice can get out of hand, especially with people who have little insurance or high-deductible plans" and "can squeeze patients when they're at their most vulnerable," the Tennessean reports. Some hospitals have responded by offering discounts to uninsured patients who pay up front, on top of a charity care discount (Ward, Tennessean, 6/21).
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Mai multe spitale cere sus-fata de plãþi, creºtere eforturile de colectare - More Hospitals Ask For Up-Front Payments, Increase Collection Efforts - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate