ER visit - billed twice for one visit (infection, surgery, doctor)

[robertpasa]

I went to an ER 8 weeks ago for a minor eye infection and spent about an hour there. I then got a bill from the hospital for about $200.

I just got a second bill for about the same amount, and it says in the "fine print" on the back that you are billed for an ER visit once by the hospital and once by the actual doctor you saw. This is explained on the back as if a lot of people asked questions about this one point.

Is this was usually happens when you visit an ER, you are billed twice?

I also went to an ER in 2009 but I only remember being billed once.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

I went to an ER 8 weeks ago for a minor eye infection and spent about an hour there. I then got a bill from the hospital for about $200.

I just got a second bill for about the same amount, and it says in the "fine print" on the back that you are billed for an ER visit once by the hospital and once by the actual doctor you saw. This is explained on the back as if a lot of people asked questions about this one point.

Is this was usually happens when you visit an ER, you are billed twice?

I also went to an ER in 2009 but I only remember being billed once.

Is your insurance company processing this? What will be your out of pocket?

[Kim in FL]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

I went to an ER 8 weeks ago for a minor eye infection and spent about an hour there. I then got a bill from the hospital for about $200.

I just got a second bill for about the same amount, and it says in the "fine print" on the back that you are billed for an ER visit once by the hospital and once by the actual doctor you saw. This is explained on the back as if a lot of people asked questions about this one point.

Is this was usually happens when you visit an ER, you are billed twice?

I also went to an ER in 2009 but I only remember being billed once.

Yup. You get a bill from the hospital and then you get a bill from the ER doc.

This is why you don't go to the ER. Go to a walkin clinic if you can't get to your PCP.

ER's are for EMERGENCY'S only and I wish they could turn away patients who show up for things that can be handled by a walkin clinic or can wait until their PCP opens.

[robertpasa]

Originally Posted by Charles

Is your insurance company processing this? What will be your out of pocket?

Most of it was below my deductible.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by robertpasa

Most of it was below my deductible.

It's December and you haven't met your deductible yet? (or did your annual cycle start recently?)

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by Kim in FL

Yup. You get a bill from the hospital and then you get a bill from the ER doc.

This is why you don't go to the ER. Go to a walkin clinic if you can't get to your PCP.

ER's are for EMERGENCY'S only and I wish they could turn away patients who show up for things that can be handled by a walkin clinic or can wait until their PCP opens.

A lot of cities (like mine) don't have a walk-in clinic, but there are two full-fledged hospitals.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Orphan is just coincidence that both amounts are the same. You get 2 bills, as the above explanation stated.

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[Kim in FL]

Originally Posted by jtur88

A lot of cities (like mine) don't have a walk-in clinic, but there are two full-fledged hospitals.

Don't they have doctor's offices that can handle non ER issues? And I'm sure within driving distance, you'd find one

[ToucheGA]

I have always received two bills whenever a family member has been to the ER. Many hospitals do not employ physicians. Example: The ER physicians at our local hospital are employed by a private physician group. The physician group has a contract with the hospital to provide the physicians, and the agency bills patients directly for the physician services. By that same token, if you are admitted to the hospital to have your appendix removed, you can probably expect a bill from the hospital for use of the operating room, nurse services, your room, food, etc. You might also get a bill from from the surgeon who did your surgery, and another bill from the anesthesiologist who pit you to sleep. My wife had a C-Section last year, and all of the aforementioned entities politely asked us for their share of the pie. Makes me wonder if we'll start getting billed for the food and housekeeping services in the foreseeable future. :-)

On the other hand, urgent care clinics often have better prices. Since they often employ doctors, you are might be more likely to get one bill for all the services rendered.

[subsound]

It's called professional and facility billing. You will get two bills if your insurance doesn't cover both with a single copay.

Welcome to American health services. This happens pretty much in every hospital in the US. It's odd both are the same, but not unheard of.