According to audits released by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, “insurance companies that administer the health plan for state and local government employees overcharged taxpayers by as much as $11 million dollars.” In the reports released by DiNapoli, auditors found hospitals were consistently overcharging for health care related items including certain drugs, implants (i.e. rods and screws used in various surgeries), blood products etc.  It was reported that from 2006 to 2010, Empire BlueCross BlueShield paid 179 hospitals $357 million dollars for these special items, yet strikingly, auditors found hospitals were commonly overcharging insurance companies for these items, sometimes more than 300 percent of their actual cost.

Auditors reviewed 194 claims from 17 hospitals and found errors in nearly 60 percent of the claims. For example, in one audit, Empire BlueCross Blue Shield paid a hospital $35,000 for a joint replacement system that should only have been reimbursed at $8,000. Ultimately, as health care providers continue to charge insurance companies excessive amounts of money, the cost of health care and health insurance will continue to rise. According to Simplee, a website that aims to empower consumers to better manage health costs, an average family of four spends approximately $3,848 annually in out-of-pocket medical expenses, which has increased 6 percent from this time last year.  Co-founder of Simplee’s website, Tomer Shoval, states, “rising health care costs are a call to arms that should encourage consumers to pay more attention to their doctor and hospital bills,” which is absolutely accurate with nearly 80% of all medical and hospital bills containing significant and costly errors.

Having your medical bill or hospital bill professionally audited is an optimal solution to ensuring your caregiver has not grossly inflated medical fees, which can significantly affect your financial stability. Contact Relamatrix Medical Bill Review, LLC for more information or for a free consultation regarding your high medical or hospital bill at (800)-653-7526.

CITATIONS

Crowley, Cathleen. TimesUnion.com. “Health Care Bill Errors Cost State.” April 11, 2012. http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Health-care-bill-errors-cost-state-3475963.php