More disputes among hospitals...Kaiser once more slated as not paying the bills...after just settling with Tenet a couple months ago for the same thing...once more patients are caught in the middle....Dr. Reddy states Kaiser should pay the balances on the bills due...BD
An ambulance rushed her to the emergency room at West Anaheim Medical Center. The couple paid their portion of the bill – a $250 deductible – and six days later, Vicki was released after treatment for respiratory distress.
But late last week, the Fowlkes were stunned to receive letters from the hospital and a collection service demanding $50,739.70. They were told Kaiser had not paid the full bill and the Fowlkes had 30 days to pay or be turned over to credit bureaus.
About 6,000 Southern California Kaiser members like the Fowlkes have received billing notices over the past week from eight Prime Healthcare Services hospitals, including West Anaheim and two others in Orange County. The massive and unprecedented collection attempt is part of an accelerating dispute between Kaiser and the controversial hospital chain founded by Dr. Prem Reddy.
"We really don't want the patients to pay us," Reddy said. "Patients are the only messengers to the health plans. They should call and say, 'We paid you dearly, how come you don't pay for my emergency care?'
Are there any other vendors out there who are not being paid by Kaiser? We have invoices over 90 days old and it's sinking our small business. Is Kaiser out of cash?
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