Denver Health Ripoff
This is a true account of a ripoff by Denver Health, a major hospital in the Western U.S.
Patient Statement:
- I was admitted to Denver Health on 5 February 2005 with shortness of breath, which abated about 30 minutes
later.
- The diagnosis was a stress-related anxiety episode triggered by worry about having no health insurance, no
job, and no income.
- Within an hour of being admitted, I was told that I would be immediately discharged because my condition had
been non-threatening and temporary.
- As I prepared to depart, three doctors came to me and told me that they had decided to keep me
another day to do a series of unspecified tests.
- I protested that I had no health insurance, but they assured me that this was not a problem, and I was
led to believe that I would not have to pay for any tests.
- Finally, I was discharged on 6 February 2005.
Patient Complaint:
- Before each test, I was assured that I would not be charged for the tests. However, that was incorrect, and
later I was charged.
- Later, I phoned Denver Health to get the test results, but my request was denied, and I have never received any
test results, just as though no tests were actually given to me.
- After taking money from my retirement savings account to pay two Denver Health physician bills totaling $775.00,
I believed that I had satisfied all of my financial obligations to Denver Health. A few weeks later, I received a bill
in the amount of $5,482.15. I had to decimate my retirement savings account to pay that bill. Denver
Health did offer me a payment plan, but I did not trust their accounting department because they charged me for a
meal that I did not consume, that was provided on 8 February 2005, two days after I had been discharged.
- When I called Denver Health to find out what the charges listed on the bill were for, I was told that the
persons in the call center were not qualified to answer my questions and that I would not be allowed to speak with any
health professionals who might be able to tell me. Furthermore, they told me that there was no one that they knew of
whom I could contact to answer my questions or to air my concerns.
- Call center personnel told me that if I didn't pay my bill in a single payment or set up a payment plan by
10 June 2005, my account would be turned over to a collection agency, and my credit rating could be adversely
affected.
- By this time, I had gotten a job paying $18.00 per hour ($36,000 per year), a little too much for me to qualify
for financial assistance.
- I was offered a Nurse's Audit, but I was warned that if the audit discovered additional charges, I would be
liable for them. Regardless of this warning, I asked for a Nurse's Audit, but I have never received any confirmation
that an audit was done, and it is apparent that my request was denied because I was billed for the meal that was
given to me two days after I was discharged.
- When I called Denver Health to request that they delete the charge for the meal that I had not eaten, and
which was provided on 8 February 2005, two days after I had been discharged, I was told that the charge would be deleted.
When I went to Denver Health to pay my bill, the charge was still in effect, and I had to pay for the meal I didn't eat
for fear that Denver Health would carry out the threat of turning my account over to a collection agency and because they
warned me that if I did not pay on time, my credit rating could be hurt. The person who received my payment could not
resolve the issue.
Patient's Desired Resolution:
- Refund to me for unknown, unnecessary tests. I do not know what these are, and I was told by Denver Health
call center that the information is not available to me. I would like a refund for the following:
-
| Treatment |
Cost |
| 1_CT_THORAX_W_CON |
$1,239.00 |
| 14_IV_FLUID, $100_EA_TIME_LEVEL_CHECKED |
$1,470.00 |
| 12_ED_OBS_LEVEL_III |
$744.00 |
| Total: |
$3,453.00 |
- Require Denver Health call center persons to provide patients with an advocacy contact to help them answer
questions and understand charges. This advocacy would be similar to the system provided by the Colorado Public
Utilities Commission that accepts complaints from customers of utility companies. Perhaps a new, watchdog agency is
required to provide patients a method of complaint resolution. I was told by the Denver Health call center that there
is no method that they know of for me to resolve my complaints.
- Require hospitals to tell each patient the cost of a test or procedure, and if the patient is capable of
making a decision, allow the patient to elect not to receive the test or procedure.
A few months later, a doctor not associated with Denver Health told me that it is common practice for hospitals in the
United States to overcharge citizens who do not have health insurance because, unlike insurance companies, they
cannot dictate what is a reasonable cost. And, individuals who lack health insurance usually do not have the financial
resources to hire legal counsel to fight back. As a result, individuals are often ripped off with no recourse. The
reason hospitals do this is for self-preservation: they have to treat illegal aliens, so the recoup their
losses, they do unnecessary tests on patients and then overcharge for tests and procedures. This situation is a direct
result of the failure of the U.S. Government's immigration policy.