healthcare cost & overbilling

What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? CA
My friend went to emergency 2 days after fracturing heel. They asked him level of pain he said "7" they gave him morphene on iv. did xrays, then did 2 CT scans catscans on foot. His total bill just from hospital was over $12,000.00 thats just the hospitals bill.
The hospital is owned by Tenet,corp which is being sued all over Calif.
They just agreed as part of a settlement in Southern CA to give lower rates to unemployed & low income & not sue the unemp. they are also being investigated by St of CA being they are one of the highest cost hosp. & over billing medical,bluecross...ect.
How do i dispute the fact he didn't need ct scan 2@ $3000.00 ea and he also didn't need iv.
5 months prior he took son in for stomach pains again ct scan bill was $25,000.00 he applied & recieved medical which paid the bill
How do I fight this I'm getting ran in circles for answers.

[cbg]

YOU don't dispute it at all. Your friend does.

If you are getting the run around trying to straighten this out, there's a VERY good chance that it's because BY LAW the hospital cannot give any information to you unless your friend has given them WRITTEN permission.

If that is the case, please post back. If you are, yourself, the friend, you will need to identify yourself as such.

BTW, this is not a malpractice issue. Though there's no need to change it now, this would have been better posted in the Insurance forum.

Thank you for the response I have written consent to all.. files
He will be present when I dispute this in the accounting office.
It has not even been 30 days and they are sending the late notices.... This is something I'm helpin him with but I
Thats not the issue...Written concent for access to billing & med. records. The issue is the hospital providing unnecessary treatment and overcharging.
5 Months ago he took his son in to emergency (same hosp) for stomachach. $25000.00 for CT-scan 5 hours to be told he has the flu. I sent him down to Medi-cal the bill got paid.
This time when he went for his Dr's 1'st follow up visit to get a cast & not just the temporary splint that cost $12000.00 the Dr's visit cost $50.00 deposit and sign for financial responsibility. Sent him home with an application for Medi-cal and a card stating:

On your next Renewal you must provide the following:
Disability Verification
Current Bank Statement
Other.....Lien

This is when he came to me because he was worried about the fact that they asked him to sign a lien on his home.,

I told him I didn't blame him and That I would try to find out some information about average health care costs, When I looked at the bill they had mailed him it was pretty general but I also found it to be odd that they had gave him a CT Scan for a fractured heel.
This injury was obtained by jumping off a rock and landing wrong. Wasn't crushed, didn't go through anything, we originally thought it was just a sprained ankle maybe broken. It also bothered me that they gave him morphene my foster son broke his hand(boxers fracture) on Thanksgiving and alls they gave him was a vicodine. What was the need for an IV of morphine which he was charged $Phar Narcotics 778.70-$506.40 for IV Solutions -$594.00 for IV material. That was some pain he must have been it to recieve all that really expensive morphine. The bill also included the following...
cost for Diagnostic Radiology $3133.00
CT Scanner $3723.00
Orthopedics $819.00
Supply Cast/Splints # 537.55 this is a plastic half calf splint & gauze...
Emergency Room $1175.00... oh this is my favorite - this is what it cost him to sit on a gurny in a hall way for 7 hours thank god he didn't get to sit in an examination area or room it would have killed him...

He can do the easy thing try to get medical and the state will pay for it but what happens if he doesnt qualify for medi-cal.
Construction worker he's gonna be outta work probably 6 months. The main thing is that this hospital continues to take advantage of those that do not have health insurance and we both feel that the appropriate officials should be notified.

This is also the reason I didn't post it in insurance forum...
Is it considered malpractive to give a patient unneaded treatment?(CT-Scan ..Morphine drip..

I would like to know what government officials to contact to point out the fact that they are not obliging to the settlement agreement they just made in a Southern CA lawsuit (agreeing to provide discounted rates for the uninsured and vowing to stop suing the unemployed to colloct on hopital bills.)

I have already talked to the states Attorny Generals Office voicing my concern on the fact that there are not enough legal guide lines or structures on health care cost for the uninsured. I will also write my Congress with the same concerns..Its like kickin a man when he's down.


Facts I think I know....(lol)..
In CA a hospital can not ask you to sign a lien....
there are no limits on what they can charge for there services
I believe there is some limitations on the markup for materials charges....
As of July1,2004 a hospital shall make written or elect. copy of its charge description master available either by posting it on the hosp. web site or by making one written or copied available at the hosp. location.
Uniform schedule of charges represented by the hosp. as its gross billed charges for a given service or item regardless of payer type.... A note must be posted in the ER informing patients this is available to all patients as is the issue of privacy acts....
Tenet Healthcare Corp is under state scrutiny for having some of the highest charges in CA
In February 2003 a local uninsured resident testified before the Assemble Health Commision about being driven to financial ruin by a $4800.00 bill for a two-day stay at the same hospital...
He is now covered through a Medicare health maintenance org. but his wife was denied Medi-Cal and they are struggling to just to purchase medication to treat her leukemia.
Tenet Healthcare Corp also is being charged with performing unnecessary heart surgurys in CA....
BlueCross.Medicaid& Medi-care all had large issues with billing for non-performed healthcare & unecessary healthcare
And lawsuit in Southern CA for above reasons ....

We would like to do what we can for those that don't know any better or don't have the time.
And not just try to get the state to pay for this bill.
It is outrageous and criminal act even far as I'm concerned but first I want to know what legal argument he has before we approach the billing office,

Thanx Lisa

[url]http://hhs.gov./policies/index.shtml[/url]

Check out this web site WRITE a formal letter to tell them what happend.

Thank you for the response. It's not always a nice world we live in and it's very pleasant when strangers take the time out to help others. I'll try it again Thanx....Any other suggestions would help, I'm basically trying to learn the legalities of the situation like you my curiosity lies in learning. Workmans Comp no prob but this is viry new to me and I thought I'd try out the site, so far so gooooood...