Holy Spirit Hospital Incorrect billing information provided Camp Hill Pennsylvania

 I visited Holy Spirit Hospital on 12/9/2013 due to asthma-related issues. When checking in to the Emergency Room, I was concerned about potential costs for the ER visit, so I asked the person checking me in what my costs would be. The intake representative asked me about my insurance and advised that I would only be responsible for my co-pay, which was $100.00 for the ER visit. She advised the rest would be covered. I received two (2) bills in the mail dated 1/1/14. One bill was in the amount of $370.00 from Camp Hill Emergency Physicians due 1/22/14, and the other was in the amount of $849.49 from Holy Spirit Hospital due 1/31/14. The $849.49 bill indicated if paid by 1/31/14, it would be discounted to $722.07. I contacted the hospital and they advised that the intake counselors should not have advised me of that, but it happens all the time. The person I spoke with indicated that they get complaints all the time stating they the intake counselors tell them things that are just not correct. They offered me the option of paying in full to receive the slight discount, or going on a payment arrangement of ~$40 month for 18 months. The other altrenative was to apply for financial assistance through the hospital for both bills, but in order to do that, I would have to fill out an application, supply pay statements, utilitiy/other bills, bank statements and other confidential/personal/private information. I do not feel it is appropriate for me to provide that level of information to a hospital to determine if I qualify for financial assistance. That seems like an invasion of privacy and rights.

I also requested an itemized statement of services rendered and an estimatated bill at the time of checkout, but did not receive one. There were also charges billed for STREP CULTURE, GRP A and DIRECT ANTIGEN GRP A STREP tests that I do not recall being performed. These totaled $43.00 and $52.00. I did not go in for Strep Throat, I went in for asthamta-related breathing issues.

I would like my bill adjusted to only reflect the co-pay that I was advised I would be responsible for. I advised the intake clerk that if I was going to be billed anything other than that, I would wait and go to a walk-in clinic since my co-pay for that type of service was only $60.00. She assured me I would be fine. The hospital should honor what was advised to me by a representative of their company and adjust properly.