I've been a designer for a number of hospitals (tech, and physical, some systems) but never in the billing, however I can attest that billing codes are complete

I've been a designer for a number of hospitals (tech, and physical, some systems) but never in the billing, however I can attest that billing codes are complete BS (billing codes are basically a number for the procedure/system/resources used such that they can say 'Code 10 == $10,000" to simplify it... Hospitals are usually 'health *groups*' and they work just the same as insurance companies - they have actuaries that do all the calc to determine what they CAN charge for a procedure, not what its summary cost actually is... When youre in a hospital GROUP you have more negotiating power with the insurance companies - so the exact same procedure in one group may be significantly different than what another group charges you.... HOWEVER - and this is important, and they wont ever tell you this - you can "haggle" with hospital billing departments... NEVER pay a hospital bill once you receive it. ALWAYS call and ask for more details about the bill, with a line item receipt for every single action, drug, interaction 'encounter' and you will generally see your bill reduced significantly. - As example, I went to the ER with chest pains. waited 2 hours for an MD to come see me, he didnt even touch me, take a BP, EKG, etc - then 'prescribed' me some motrin (over the counter) and then billed me $1,500 for a 4 minute interaction. I refused to pay this and they tried to drop it to $900 - and I told them, that if they can drop it from $1500 to $900 with just me protesting, then they needed to pay me for the two hours I waited to speak to the MD They dropped the bill entirely. Good Samaratin Hospital, Los Gatos CA.