This iReport is part of an assignment:
Bitter pill: The cost of health care in the U.S.
More iReports you should see
EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT
On 01/07/2013, my dad went to the LabCorp for his routine blood works at 8:00am. The day went by and we were ready to go to sleep and the phone rang at about 10:10pm. I picked up the phone and it was Dr.Nukula (my dad’s Primary Care Physician) and she stated that could she please speak to my dad – Parekh. I gave the line and then after he spoke to her for couple minutes, he gave the line to me and she stated that my dad’s blood work is not very good and his…Potassium level was slightly elevated and I should take him to the Emergency Room and just to be sure his about his LAB WORK result. We went to the emergency room.
After about 45 minutes of wait, a nurse called him in and took him while I waited outside. It was past midnight and was about 1400hrs when he came out and he stated to me that my blood work came out to be normal. He then stated that the nurse charged him $211.00 for the work and my dad already had a green card given by the Columbus Regional for getting his basic service. He stated that he showed still the nurse charged him.
After couple days, I received another bill of about $ 288.00 that was the remaining balance of $499.00 and they asked us to pay the rest of the amount. I disputed and finally I did get my money back.
Again after couple more days, I receive a bill of $606.00 from the Emergency wherein the charges were from the Physician – Dr. James Jr DO.JAMES/B/ FORREST PA-C.HEATHER. The bill stated that this was the service provided between 1:00pm-800 . Not a single Physician examined my dad nor any RN or PA was there to examine him and I fail to understand why.
I disputed with the third party billing and they sent me a letter stating that “When you go to emergency room, you know the charges are higher than regular”. In addition, the lady, Ms. Benny stated that these are the charges where the nurse examines and the billing is done under a doctor’s license. After my prolong arguments with the person who picked up the phone, she did not give in. I am at this juncture where I have asked for his medical records with notes stating that he was not examined by anyone.
So my dad’s total bill for a simple LAB WORK WAS $ 1105.00.
After about 45 minutes of wait, a nurse called him in and took him while I waited outside. It was past midnight and was about 1400hrs when he came out and he stated to me that my blood work came out to be normal. He then stated that the nurse charged him $211.00 for the work and my dad already had a green card given by the Columbus Regional for getting his basic service. He stated that he showed still the nurse charged him.
After couple days, I received another bill of about $ 288.00 that was the remaining balance of $499.00 and they asked us to pay the rest of the amount. I disputed and finally I did get my money back.
Again after couple more days, I receive a bill of $606.00 from the Emergency wherein the charges were from the Physician – Dr. James Jr DO.JAMES/B/ FORREST PA-C.HEATHER. The bill stated that this was the service provided between 1:00pm-800 . Not a single Physician examined my dad nor any RN or PA was there to examine him and I fail to understand why.
I disputed with the third party billing and they sent me a letter stating that “When you go to emergency room, you know the charges are higher than regular”. In addition, the lady, Ms. Benny stated that these are the charges where the nurse examines and the billing is done under a doctor’s license. After my prolong arguments with the person who picked up the phone, she did not give in. I am at this juncture where I have asked for his medical records with notes stating that he was not examined by anyone.
So my dad’s total bill for a simple LAB WORK WAS $ 1105.00.
- TAGS:
- health,
- health_care,
- economy
- GROUPS:
What do you think of this story?
Select one of the options below. Your feedback will help tell CNN producers what to do with this iReport. If you'd like, you can explain your choice in the comments below.
Be and editor! Choose an option below:
More from this assignment - Bitter pill: The cost of health care in the U.S.
iReport welcomes a lively discussion, so comments on iReports are not pre-screened before they post. See the iReport community guidelines for details about content that is not welcome on iReport.
© 2013 Cable News Network. 
Comments