A number of patients across the country have received a surprise medical bill, and that includes veteran Jim Meeks.
Mr. Meeks, who is semi-retired, was visiting the Hutchinson VA clinic and had to be taken by ambulance to the emergency room at Hutchinson (Kan.) Regional Medical Center, according to a KWCH report. He later received a $9,200 hospital bill then a collection notice for $830, the report states.
Although the VA is supposed to cover the hospital bill, it couldn't do so because the VA didn't receive the correct coding, Rob Cain, spokesperson with the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kan., told KWCH.
Hutchinson Regional attributed the matter, in part, to its billing system.
"We found the claims had not been paid. We sent things to the VA. However, one of the problems with our billing system is, if you call and we know it's going to be paid by a third party, it still goes out and says it's past due. That's frustrating for the patient," Hutchinson Regional spokesperson Sue Wray told KWCH.
Hutchinson Regional is now updating its billing system so the same problem doesn't occur again, according to the report. The VA said it is working with Mr. Meeks to help him clear up the issue, the report states.