Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Sticker Shock: About One In Three Who Visit Hospital Hit With Surprise Medical Bills
As insurers and hospitals point fingers at each other, it's the patient who ends up paying thousands unexpectedly. In other news, ER doctors weigh in on costs in a survey.
According to Consumer Reports, nearly one third of Americans who have visited a hospital in the last year have received a surprise medical bill. In Texas, more than 20 percent of hospitals considered in-network by the top 3 insurers had no in-network emergency room doctors on staff. (Sterns and Capetta, 5/13)
Four out of five emergency-room doctors who responded to an American College of Emergency Physicians survey believe that privately insured patients have skipped needed medical care because of concerns about out-of-pocket costs. (Alltucker, 5/15)
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