4 ms·

If they do tell you it's not like they'll fine it binding either. Or good luck finding an error in billing in what they give you and then successfully contestin

by neaden 9y ago

If they do tell you it's not like they'll fine it binding either. Or good luck finding an error in billing in what they give you and then successfully contesting it. There area also all the ways they slap on random charges. The article mentions a $40 holding baby fee! I think a big part of why this isn't seen as a bigger problem is most people don't have direct experience with it. I've managed to be healthy and avoid any surprise medical bills so far in my life so it would be easy for me to assume this stuff would be taken care of by my insurance if anything happens. I know enough people who have horror stories to know that isn't the case though.

Cacti 9y ago
I believe the fees like 'holding a baby' are a result of them determining an overall cost to charge you, average, per hour, then itemizing it out for legal or tracking reasons. So you weren't being charged $40 to hold the baby for a minute, it's you are being charged $40 for a minute, during which you held the baby.
- neaden 9y ago
  I don't think that is correct in this instance. The example comes from this same author a previous time here: https://www.vox.com/2016/10/4/13160624/medical-bills-birth-delivery https://www.vox.com/2016/10/4/13160624/medical-bills-birth-d... . Here is a quote from an uninvolved pediatric nurse on where the charge comes from: "doing 'skin to skin' in the operating room requires an additional staff member to be present just to watch the baby. We used to take all babies to the nursery once the NICU team made sure everything was okay. "Skin to skin" in the OR is a relatively new thing and requires a second Labor and Delivery RN to come in to the OR and make sure the baby is safe." I think the charge is justifiable, but keep in mind no one is telling the new parents "Do you want to hold your new baby right now? It'll be $40." They are just offering and allowing people to accept not knowing they'll be charged.

by neaden 9y ago

Cacti 9y ago

I believe the fees like 'holding a baby' are a result of them determining an overall cost to charge you, average, per hour, then itemizing it out for legal or tracking reasons. So you weren't being charged $40 to hold the baby for a minute, it's you are being charged $40 for a minute, during which you held the baby.

neaden 9y ago
I don't think that is correct in this instance. The example comes from this same author a previous time here: https://www.vox.com/2016/10/4/13160624/medical-bills-birth-delivery https://www.vox.com/2016/10/4/13160624/medical-bills-birth-d... . Here is a quote from an uninvolved pediatric nurse on where the charge comes from: "doing 'skin to skin' in the operating room requires an additional staff member to be present just to watch the baby. We used to take all babies to the nursery once the NICU team made sure everything was okay. "Skin to skin" in the OR is a relatively new thing and requires a second Labor and Delivery RN to come in to the OR and make sure the baby is safe." I think the charge is justifiable, but keep in mind no one is telling the new parents "Do you want to hold your new baby right now? It'll be $40." They are just offering and allowing people to accept not knowing they'll be charged.