“ 8) Someone suggested that hospital fee schedules be made available to the public. Well, they already are. Hospitals in CA are required to submit their charge masters once a year to the State under AB1627. You can also go to any hospital billing Office and ask to view the charge master (if you want a copy, you have to request it in writing ahead of time). Make sure the charge master amounts match the bill, and if something is amiss, have them check it out. The California Hospital Association (CHA) kindly provided its “Hospital Charity Care & Discount Policies: A handbook on how to comply with the law,” by Koortbojian and Bookman. In it are important statements about compliance with the California Charity Care and Discount Payment Law (AB774), effective 1/1/2007. Keep in mind, however, that the California Department of Public Health’s own website (the division responsible for enforcement of AB774) states that while reporting charity care and discount policies is a condition of hospital licensure, there are no financial penalties for non-compliance. And, while DPH provides “general guidelines,” “this information may vary by hospital.” Conspicuously, although both AB774 and the CHA’s handbook specifically include debt collection, the California DPH enforcement division has no mention whatsoever of hospital debt collection practices or policies. So what does the handbook say you have a right to under AB774? Here’s both the good and the bad:
City Brights: Doc Gurley : Part III: 16 Tips to avoid hospital debt collection