HIV: OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL CARE-GLOSSARY OF HOSPITAL PEOPLE AND PRACTICES: THE HOSPITAL BILL
The anticipated charge for the average private or semiprivate room in a private hospital is $350 to $600 a day (in 1990 dollars), but it can be over $1,000 in such large metropolitan areas as New York City. Intensive care units are usually $1,000 to $2,000 a day. Additional charges include medications, laboratory tests, physicians’ fees, and specialized procedures like bronchoscopy or operations. The hospital bill is likely to be long and full of medical jargon with lists of numerical codes for every pill and procedure. Physicians’ fees are billed separately from the hospital bill. Insurance companies determine the customary and reasonable charges for both the hospital and the physician and, on that basis, make their payments. Questions about hospital charges should be directed to the hospital billing office or to the patient representative. Questions about a physician’s charges should be directed to the physician. If finances are going to be a problem, the person should inquire about charges for various tests and their alternatives before the tests are done.*169\191\2*
