Medical Bill Question

[BOHO]

I know no one wants to read a long drawn out thread so I'll try to keep it brief.

 

I've been having some minor health problems and have a question about a recent ER visit. In July I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease which is inflammatory bowel disease. I have a lot of scar tissue and inflammation in my small and large intestines. 2 weeks ago I was at work and started experiencing severe pain in my lower abdomen, then in testicles, then pissing blood. I went to the ER - blood work , CT scan, pain meds, 7 hours later, etc. They suspected kidney stones but didn't see anything so they said it was a Crohn's flare up and sent me on my way. The next day I was still in pain but tried to get through it as I figured this was just what life was going to be like during a flare up.

 

The following day I couldn't stand it...I went to a different ER in Macon. They suspected the same thing - Kidney stones. Did a CT and said...yep...you have 2 stones. Gave me real pain meds and a strainer and told me to wait for them to pass only 3mm stones. Entire trip took 2 hours.

 

I already paid $220 out of pocket for the first ER visit. Which upset me because my copay is 100$ but the new policy is to charge the "estimated 20% of service provided up front" which really pissed me off. Apparently its a new policy because most people don't pay their bills they said. And I'm sure I will be getting another bill in the mail for additional charges on it. Since they misdiagnosed me do I have any grounds to refuse to pay? I would think I could just talk to someone as between me and my insurance I've spent over 78k at this hospital in the last 3 years and work it out but I'm sure that won't be the case...So I'm just asking if anyone has any experience with this.

 

Thanks,

 

Braden

Edited September 23, 2015 by BOHO

[IntercooledFlatty]

i have not but i hope you get better broham

[scott87star]

Unfortunately you don't get money back for a misdiagnosis, kind of like they don't fire the weatherman when he's wrong half the time. But do pester the crap out of the insurance company and the Hospital to make sure you only pay what you're supposed to, you should be getting a check for $120 since your copay was only $100. Once the insurance pays the hospital of course but they do that routinely. Having spent the last two years dealing with insurance over my wife's cancer treatments, hospital procedures, blah, blah blah I have learned to pick up the phone and call someone. Getting a bill for $50K+ you know isn't correct and having everyone insist it is you will eventually find someone in the system who says "oh yeah, that was covered, our mistake". At least its worked so far......

[DieHARDmitsu.]

Sorry to hear man...

 

Like Scott said, you have to keep pressing them. When the Reps give you a hard time, ask to speak to the supervisor, make some noise when they get on the phone. You shouldn't pay a penny for misdiagnoses, it's on them. If the amount is substantial, threaten with legal action. Push comes to shove, get a lawyer. Yes, you can sue.

 

I've done some work in medical billing, so what you are facing happens often. Hospitals and insurance companies alike, all a big business.

 

Herbal treatment along with dietary changes have done wonders in long term treatment of crohns. Heavy meds often create more problems down the line...side effects. Something to consider.

 

Feel better

Edited September 24, 2015 by DieHARDmitsu.

[BOHO]

I started on humira last week. Going to give it a shot and see if it helps some of my symptoms. Its hard to talk about treatment with out drugs with the doctors as I know how the business works. And if you try to talk to people online about it most of them appear to be coo coo birds.

[IntercooledFlatty]

f n doctors and the health care system is all about the dollar. take the drugs and hopefully get good results but look into what diehard says yO

[DieHARDmitsu.]

Yea, I agree, a lot of bad info on the web, especially with people playing their own doctor.

A Certified Dietitian can perform an allergy test that will determine what foods cause irritation in the gut. Our insides react differently to certain foods, preservatives and additives. People are allergic to different things, and as you know it varies from person to person.

The food allergy test results will serve as a guide to steer you clear of things that causes inflammation.

Then comes Herbal Therapy, it will promote healing without ill effects cuz its natural. Only a Certified Herbalist or someone reputable, who has been in the business for a while would do. Chinese and Ayurvedic (Indian) type herbal therapy are very good.

 

Just so you know I'm a medical biller by day, gear head at nite

See a lot of people with similar ailments.

[Edde]

Sorry I might be confused - is it correctly diagnosed as stones or crohns at this point or don't know? Just trying to figure out why the Humera. I would read very carefully the list of side effects from that. My GF took it for a while for ankylosing spondylitis for a while but then decided to tough it out instead.

 

I'm certainly no expert on the billing, but I'd think it difficult to recover a few hundred if that's all it ends up being for the first. I don't think guarantees come easily at the ER.

 

Feel better tho.

[BOHO]

I have both. But the pain and issue was the kidney stones.

 

I only ask because my other doctors said you would never do a CT with contrast to look for kidney stones...and that was supposedly what they were looking for. It just seems like they ordered the wrong test.

[JAinsworth]

Unfortunately, there is little you can do. If you still owe them money, tell them you can't afford to pay it. They will ask you how much can you afford; tell them 5 dollars a month is all you can spare. You can drag it out for years and in the end the admin costs for them outweighs your payments. Small satisfaction but you can make them lose money in the long run by doing this.