Or is it even worth my time?
Here’s the story… while in another state I had some chest pains and went to the emergency room. They hooked me up and did all kinds of tests and told me that they wanted me to stay (overnight) until I could take a stress test. I passed it with flying colors the next morning.
I had them send my records to my family doctor. I was going over them with him and noticed that they got a major part of my medical history very wrong:
My dad did not die at age 55 of a heart attack!! He had one but is alive and doing fine still 22 years later!!! I’m 49 and my “family history” seemed to be a key factor at the time.
I can’t help but wonder how much of the $4000 bill (which I have to pay out of my own pocket) might have beend reduced if they had gotten that key piece of info correct?
Any experiences or suggestions??
You probably don’t have much of a chance to bargain them down as even with your dad surviving, you still have a significant familial risk for heart problems. Heart disease in your father/brothers by age 55 or mother/sisters by age 65 is generally considered a strong possible risk factor.
I’d be concerned that they transcribed your history incorrectly, though.
I think it’s worth taking a look at. Hospitals have a hard time collecting from people who pay out of pocket, so negotiation does happen. Some key things to look at are how they got the incorrect information. If they didn’t make the mistake single-handedly, that would make it less of a negotiating point. Did they get the wrong info from your primary doctor or from a relative who accompanied you to the hospital? Or did you tell them the straight truth and they wrote it down wrong? Also, is the bill itemized? What specific treatments do you think shouldn’t have been ordered? Maybe your primary doctor could help you figure out what care/testing is normal. There is probably a standard “what we order for person with chest pains and family history” - did your testing go beyond that? Of course, it is possible that the family history, regardless of whether the heart attack was fatal, would lead to the same recommended testing.
Good luck, and glad you’re doing OK now.