Medical bill errors are more common than many think. These mistakes can cost the patient thousands of dollars in charges that are not their responsibility, and if they can't pay them, their credit will suffer. Millions of people have had their credit histories damaged by not paying for medical expenses that aren't actually theirs. Below are some of the most common mistakes made with medical billing that should be avoided including:
Always itemize the bill to prevent errors. Sometimes, when the patient is in the hospital, they are presented with a bill that has a single total amount. With an itemized bill provided, the patient gets to see their charges and note or dispute erroneous information.
Many times, the patient is charged twice for the same service or product consumed. It's easy to miss because sometimes the same expense appears under two different names. Other times they include joint expenses and individual expenses. This happens often with surgeries – there may be a charge for the "surgery" and also for all the items that were used in the surgery. If a patient had an extensive hospital stay, they can have hundreds of individual expenses and the probability that there is an error is high.
Provide a written statement. If there is a charge that has been confirmed over the phone from the provider's office but the patient is not convinced that they are actually entitled to it, you should provide them with written proof that they actually received the treatment. It must be done in writing. Go the extra step of offering a copy of their medical file where it is clear that the doctor authorized it.
Make sure that the insurance statement matches the medical bill. In some cases, they do not. In addition to the bill from the doctor, clinic, or hospital, the patient should also receive a document called an Explanation of Benefits, or EOB, that tells how much the insurance will pay and how much they are responsible for. The EOB and the bill must match. If not, then it may be that the patient’s insurance has made a mistake and is not giving the patient all the necessary coverage.
If there are mistakes on a patient’s medical bill, it sheds a bad light on the medical billing company. The process can become complicated for the patient and fixing the errors could take a considerable amount of time. If you are unable to efficiently handle medical billing internally, then it is best to consult with one of the best medical billing services in Philadelphia.
