According to the report, the union workers cited Medicare claims data that showed that patients treated by Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at five hospitals, including Beth Israel, were charged $30 to be seen during late-night hours.
Officials from the physicians group say that the charges are common practice across Massachusetts and the country and are necessary to offset the costs of operating 24-hour/7-day departments. Officials from the Local 1199 say the charges take advantage of patients, according to the report.
Other hospitals in the area — Boston Medical Center, Caritas Christi Health Care and Partners HealthCare — said their ERs and physician practices do not charge the late-night fee.
Read the Globe’s report on the Massachusetts late-night ER fees.
