Posted on Jun 27, 2023
The hospital bills didn't find her, but a lawsuit did — plus interest
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/06/27/ [login to see] /the-hospital-bills-didnt-find-her-but-a-lawsuit-did-plus-interest
Bethany Birch had pain in her diaphragm on and off for eight months in 2016.
She knew it was triggered by food so she said she tried taking an antacid, which helped a little, but eventually she avoided eating altogether. She estimated she lost 25 pounds in that time.
One night that September, the pain would not go away for hours. It was so severe she went to the emergency room at Indian Path Community Hospital in Kingsport, Tennessee, where she lives. An ultrasound revealed she needed her gallbladder removed right away. She was able to get into surgery quickly because she hadn't eaten in over 12 hours due to her food avoidance.
At the time, Birch was 23 and uninsured. Once she was released from the hospital, however, she lost her housing and spent months without a permanent mailing address while crashing with family.
"It was a pretty rough situation because, at the time, I didn't have a job, I didn't have a driver's license or anything," Birch said.
Bethany Birch had pain in her diaphragm on and off for eight months in 2016.
She knew it was triggered by food so she said she tried taking an antacid, which helped a little, but eventually she avoided eating altogether. She estimated she lost 25 pounds in that time.
One night that September, the pain would not go away for hours. It was so severe she went to the emergency room at Indian Path Community Hospital in Kingsport, Tennessee, where she lives. An ultrasound revealed she needed her gallbladder removed right away. She was able to get into surgery quickly because she hadn't eaten in over 12 hours due to her food avoidance.
At the time, Birch was 23 and uninsured. Once she was released from the hospital, however, she lost her housing and spent months without a permanent mailing address while crashing with family.
"It was a pretty rough situation because, at the time, I didn't have a job, I didn't have a driver's license or anything," Birch said.
The hospital bills didn't find her, but a lawsuit did — plus interest
Posted from npr.org
Lawsuit
Medical
Health
Economics
Posted 11 mo ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"Bethany Birch paid more than $5,200 toward her medical debt after getting sued by Ballad Health in 2018. Owing to a Tennessee court judgment, she accrued an additional $2,700 in interest over that time."...
"Bethany Birch paid more than $5,200 toward her medical debt after getting sued by Ballad Health in 2018. Owing to a Tennessee court judgment, she accrued an additional $2,700 in interest over that time."...
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Sorry PO1 William "Chip" Nagel, I can’t get worked up over this. When she first went in to hospital she could have completed the paperwork for indigent care. When she never received a bill for care she should have contacted the hospital. Most hospitals will work with these folks. My sister is s case in point. She needed emergency gallbladder surgery after she moved in with us, for 2 years. She paid a pittance for her card. She also had no insurance and a pitiful salary.
All my clinic clients get indigent care for any procedures, surgeries, consults, etc. Yes, there is paperwork, but it is there for most all indigent clients.
All my clinic clients get indigent care for any procedures, surgeries, consults, etc. Yes, there is paperwork, but it is there for most all indigent clients.
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