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Patient billing advocates are a real service now. For let's say $500 they go to war with the billing dept of a hospital; the hospital will almost always knock 5
by creaghpatr 10y ago
Patient billing advocates are a real service now. For let's say $500 they go to war with the billing dept of a hospital; the hospital will almost always knock 50% of the price off because they don't want to fight the battle.
So many patients default on their bills it's a financial crisis for most hospitals outside of the large major chains. That billing department is going to take what they can get, even if it's only 20% of the amount the patient owes. Pretty nuts.
- drewg123 10y agoBut apparently that strategy doesn't always work. The lady in the article offered the hospital what her experts said was a reasonable price, including a profit margin & they turned down the offer.
- creaghpatr 10y agoI think the hospitals jack up their list prices with these adjustments presumed. Of course, they don't tell the patient to negotiate a discount that's the last thing they want to deal with. And you're right, it doesn't always work it depends on the context and financial health of the provider.