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Bush Administration: Hospitals Urged to Cut Uninsureds' Costs
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| Contributor | Gerald Farinas |
| Last Edited | Gerald Farinas Feb 19, 2004 06:21pm |
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| Category | News |
| Media | News Service - Associated Press |
| News Date | Thursday, February 19, 2004 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Bush Administration: Hospitals Urged to Cut Uninsureds' Costs
The government on Thursday urged hospitals to cut charges for uninsured patients, rejecting hospitals' argument that they are constrained by federal rules.
Uninsured patients often are charged the full retail price for medical procedures, unlike members of private and government health plans that negotiate steep discounts for hospital care.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said there are no legal impediments to offering similar relief to the uninsured, regardless of their income.
"Nothing in the Medicare program rules or regulations prohibit such discounts," Thompson wrote Richard J. Davidson, president of the American Hospital Association, which represents nearly 5,000 hospitals.
Hospitals have come under increasing pressure from consumer groups to change pricing for the uninsured. The hospital industry in December acknowledged that hospitals' billing process can be confusing and unfair. In particular, the groups have criticized aggressive collection practices, including suing people for unpaid bills and in some cases, placing liens on their homes. |
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