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6 Common Medical Bill Errors10/7/2022 If you get a big medical bill in the mail, the amount might not be what you owe. There are sometimes mistakes on medical bills, which is why it's important to ask for detailed bills and carefully look over everything you were charged for. Let's talk about some common mistakes on medical bills and what to do if you think there's something wrong with your bill.
1. Coding Errors Medical codes are used to show what kind of care you got during your visit, and if these codes are wrong, the cost of your care could go up. For example, if a 15-minute checkup is coded as a 25-minute diagnostic visit, the price could go up. Coding mistakes can sometimes be honest mistakes. If the higher prices are done on purpose, though, this is called "upcoding," which is a dishonest way to make more money from patient visits. Even though medical bills can be hard to understand, it's important to look into the details to find f raud or mistakes. You might be able to make sense of it all if you look up codes online. The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system is often used by doctors. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website has information about what CPT codes mean. 2. Fees for services that are canceled or turned down S ome tests, medicines, procedures, or supplies that you say no to or that your doctor cancels may still sh ow up on your bill by mistake. Check each bill carefully to make sure that what it says was done an d that the billed supplies were actually used. 3. Data Entry Mistakes Simple clerical errors, like putting the wrong insurance company on your records or making a mistake with your insurance number, can cause your claim to be turned down. If you get a bill that seems too high, you should check with your insurance company to see if the claim was handled correctly. 4. Mistakes with the date and length of stay Check the dates of any hospital visits when you look over your bills. If you only stayed for a few hours but your bill says you stayed all day or overnight by mistake, you could be charged a lot more. 5. Code Unbundling When a coder uses multiple codes for care instead of one bundle code for the whole procedure, this is called "code unbundling." When bills are broken down in this way, they can be more expensive, and your health insurance company may not pay a claim that is more than what is normal for the procedure. Unbundling may be harder for someone who isn't trained in medical coding to spot, but comparing your bill to code lists or asking a medical bill advocate for help could help you find items you can dispute. 6. Charges More Than Once Check to make sure you haven't been charged more than once for tests, medicines, or supplies after a hospital stay or procedure. Even if you make a mistake, you shouldn't have to pay twice. Read More: https://ajustsolutions.com/5-things-to-remember-as-you-negotiate-medical-bills/
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