Here are four things to know about hospital ED after-hour fees and who pays for them:
1. The surcharge, which aims to cover the higher cost of staffing the ED at night, is typically less than $100.
2. Hospitals and health plans often negotiate after-hours fees between themselves and don’t hold the patient responsible, Richard Gundling, a senior vice president at the Healthcare Financial Management Association, told KHN.
“If it’s an in-network provider, an insurer is generally responsible for addressing the billing of that code under its negotiated contract with the providers,” Mr. Gundling said.
3. Paul Kivela, MD, a Napa, Calif.-based emergency physician and president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, told KHN adding on an after-hours fee is rare but justifiable because of the extra cost.
4. Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay the after-hours surcharge, according to the column.
More articles on EDs:
23-year-old man dies by suicide in Texas hospital ER
2 standout quotes on ED case management
Chicago’s ER workers feel like they are in a ‘war zone’
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
