Hospital's In House Collection Agency Reporting Practice Question.

[Anonymous]

I have some medical debt due to an ER bill. Seems that the hospital split up my bill and now I have 5 different account numbers. 

1. Paramedics (There own paramedics not a separate or county medic)

2. ER Doctor

3. Hospital charges

4. Radiologist charges

5. Some other hospital charge.

This was all due to 1 visit. I feel like the hospital is trying to wreck my credit. Is this legal?

[llecs]

I'd say it is legal. While it was one visit, each hospital will hire outside companies/doctors/firms like anesthesiologists to provide services within the hospital. Back in February, DD#2 (less than 1 year) fell off her high chair and landed diretly on her head. She's OK now, but I had her rushed to the hospital after she passed out. When the dust settled, we had seperate bills from the X-ray folks, anesthesiologists, the C-T scan techs, the ambulance, the ER doc, and the hospital itself. While these professionals worked with the hospital, they didn't work as employees for the hospital. They are each their own business and some of them likely work in other hospitals, offices, and clinics.

[haulingthescoreup]

+1

This is one reason why people can get unpleasant surprises when they think an admission is covered by insurance. They might check whether the hospital and surgeon are part of their plan, and they think they're OK.

Then come anesthesiology, pathology, radiology, and their friends. Luckily, these entities usually accept a pretty wide variety of insurance plans for this very reason. But they're all different businesses, with their own billing departments.

Something to be aware of, if you're ever expecting medical treatment. And of course, ER visits aren't planned, by definition.

Same is true for outpatient. For instance, if you are getting your innards peered at on an outpatient basis, you'll still have at least the main provider plus pathology. (Usually the conscious sedation is provided through the main doctor's group.)