Alan & Brenda Leonard

1/11/03 19:59:

> I am currently recovering from a ruptured appendix and subsequent emergency
> appendectomy so this is very timely. I actually went to the ER 3 times with
> abdominal pain and a fever and was SENT HOME. By some chance the appendix
> actually burst on my third visit which landed me in surgery. Am anticipating
> separate $50 co-pays for each ER visit. :(

Make a complaint (in person!) to the Patient Representative at the hospital.
Present your bills for the 3 seperate co-pays. Tell them that you are happy
to pay for the 3rd one, since that's the time that you got the care you
needed. Ask them to waive the $100 that will remain on your account after
insurance pays, since it's the hospital's fault that your issue was not
properly diagnosed on the first visit. Imply that if they do waive that
$100, you will cheerily go on your way and not press the issue. If the
first person you talk to can't help you, work your way up the chain.
Somewhere there will likely be someone who sees the light and realizes that
you might have a really valid complaint about misdiagnosis and $100 is a
pretty small amount to write off to make you go away.

brenda
(I deal with army contracters. I've gotten really good at complaining!)