Medical Bills for Grown-Ups
Summary
Hosts Leah Palmeri and Matt Stillo discuss the complexities of medical billing with guest Cynthia Fisher, founder of Patient Rightsadvocate.org. The episode explains how coding and lack of price transparency lead to inflated bills, highlighting common errors like double-billing and surprise charges. Fisher offers practical advice on requesting itemized bills, negotiating costs, and securing written insurance authorization to protect consumers from excessive medical debt.
Topics discussed
The mystery of confusing medical bills
Introduction to Grown Up Stuff and guest Cynthia Fisher
The scale of medical debt in the US
How hospitals and insurers maximize billing codes
Explaining medical billing codes and claims
The perverse incentives of revenue cycle optimization
The power of price transparency and competition
Understanding negotiated rates vs. charged amounts
Why you should always request an itemized bill
Common billing errors like double-charging
Itemized bills vs. Explanation of Benefits
Planning for predictable medical costs like childbirth
How to spot coding errors and verify care levels
The high cost of childbirth and hospital profits
Options for financial assistance and cash discounts
How to negotiate and dispute medical bills
Avoiding surprise bills with written pre-authorization
Three rules for protecting yourself from overcharging
Advocating for price transparency legislation
Closing thoughts and episode credits
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