cornerstone of our relationship ♪
.
>> BY FEDERAL LAW, COVID TESTS
ARE FREE REGARDLESS OF HAVING
INSURANCE. >> YET MANY END UP WITH BILLS
>> YET MANY END UP WITH BILLS
FOR HUNDREDS EVEN THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS FOR A SIMPLE TEST.
KPRC 2 INVESTIGATES AMY DAVIS
IS GETTING ANSWERS FOR YOU, AND SHE’S SHOWING YOU HOW TO
AND SHE’S SHOWING YOU HOW TO
FIND A FREE TEST WHEN YOU NEED
ONE. >> Reporter: HIS BAGS WERE
>> Reporter: HIS BAGS WERE
PACKED AND JORGE WAS READY TO
TAKE OFF WITH A SUMMER
VACATION.
THE DAY BEFORE DEPARTURE, HE
LEARNED A CO-WORKER TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
HE NEEDED A TEST AND QUICK.
JORGE DROVE HERE TO MEMORIAL
VILLAGE ER ON MEMORIAL NEAR
DAIRY ASHFORD. >> RIGHT AWAY SOMEONE CAME OUT
>> RIGHT AWAY SOMEONE CAME OUT
WEARING SCRUBS AND ASKED FOR
INSURANCE.
>> Reporter: THE ROUTINE NASAL
SWAB IN THE COMFORT OF HIS CAR
AND HE WAS ON HIS WAY.
>> HOW LONG WAS THE ENTIRE VISIT?
>> 15 MINUTES IN AND OUT WHICH
WAS CONVENIENT.
>> Reporter: CONVENIENT BUT COSTLY, WHEN JORGE GOT
COSTLY, WHEN JORGE GOT
EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS FROM
UNITED INSURANCE, ONE FOR
$2,016 FOR LAB WORK, ANOTHER FOR A PHYSICIAN FEE OF $1736
FOR A PHYSICIAN FEE OF $1736
FOR A DOCTOR.
ALL TOTAL, $3,752 FOR A COVID
TEST.
>> I WAS IN SHOCK AT FIRST, I NEVER SAW A DOCTOR.
NEVER SAW A DOCTOR.
NEVER GOT OUT OF THE CAR,
NEVER OPENED MY DOOR.
>> Reporter: I’M AMY DAVIS
WITH KPRC.
>> WE STOPPED BY MEMORIAL
VILLAGE ER TO EXPLAIN THE CHARGES.
>> YOU BILLED SOMEBODY $3700.
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, WE
APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE,
WE’VE ASKED TO YOU TALK TO
SHERRY PETERSON, OKAY? >> SHERRY DOESN’T WORK HERE.
>> SHERRY DOESN’T WORK HERE.
YOU OWN THE PLACE.
>> SHERRY IS OUR
REPRESENTATIVE AND ASKED YOU
TO CALL SHERRY.
>> Reporter: THE PUBLIC
RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE SENT THIS STATEMENT, MEMORIAL
THIS STATEMENT, MEMORIAL
VILLAGE EMERGENCY ROOM BILLING
PRACTICES ARE IN STRICT
COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND
FEDERAL LAW.
THE CARES ACT REQUIRES HEALTH
INSURERS TO PAY FOR THE COST OF COVID-19 TESTS AND INVOICE
OF COVID-19 TESTS AND INVOICE
CHARGES REPRESENT A STARTING
POINT FOR NEGOTIATING THEIR
REIMBURSEMENT. >> SOUNDS LIKE PRICE GOUGING.
>> SOUNDS LIKE PRICE GOUGING.
>> Reporter: JAMIE IS THE CEO
OF A GROUP THAT REPRESENTS THE
INSURANCE INDUSTRY COVERING
THE COST OF COVID TESTS UNDER
THE FEDERAL MANDATE. >> THE PRICING SCHEMES ARE
>> THE PRICING SCHEMES ARE
JUST BECOMING RIDICULOUS.
THIS ONE IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND
BECAUSE WE KNOW THE TEST
SHOULDN’T BE MORE THAN $150.
>> Reporter: WHEN WE STOPPED BY MEMORIAL VILLAGE ER,
BY MEMORIAL VILLAGE ER,
GRANDMOTHER GABRIELA WAS
TURNED AWAY FOR A TEST.
>> THEY ASK ME WHAT INSURANCE
DO I HAVE AND WHEN I SAID MEDICARE, THEY IMMEDIATELY
MEDICARE, THEY IMMEDIATELY
SAID WE DON’T TAKE MEDICARE.
IT COULD BE HUNDREDS. >> Reporter: THAT’S RIGHT,
>> Reporter: THAT’S RIGHT,
$150 FOR PRIVATE PAY PATIENTS
TO GET THE SAME TEST THEY
BILLED UNITED.
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
REIMBURSES PROVIDERS BETWEEN 31 AND $100 FOR COVID TEST BUS
31 AND $100 FOR COVID TEST BUS
THIS ER WON’T ACCEPT THAT. >> VERY DISHONEST AND VERY
>> VERY DISHONEST AND VERY
UNEQUAL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I
AM A SENIOR AND I REALLY DO
NEED COVID TEST.
>> Reporter: JORGE’S INSURANCE
COMPANY PAID $958 OF THE CLAIM.
MEMORIAL VILLAGE ER AND OTHER
FREE STANDING ER’S, THIS ONE
WE INVESTIGATED EARLY THIS
YEAR.
I’M WONDERING WHY YOU WOULD EXPLAIN WHY YOU WOULD CHARGE
EXPLAIN WHY YOU WOULD CHARGE
$9,000 FOR A COVID TEST.
>> WE DON’T.
>> Reporter: THIS IS WHAT YOU
BILLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
TAKE WHATEVER THE INSURANCE COMPANIES PAY AND KEEP MOVING.
COMPANIES PAY AND KEEP MOVING.
PART OF THE PROBLEM IS
SOMETIMES INSURANCE COMPANIES
DON’T REALIZE THEY’RE BILLED
FOR A COVID TEST AND MAY HAVE
NO WAY TO KNOW UNLESS YOU TELL
THEM. IF YOU SEE EXCESSIVE CHARGES,
IF YOU SEE EXCESSIVE CHARGES,
LET YOUR INSURANCE PROVIDER
KNOW SO THEY DON’T PAY MORE
THAN THEY HAVE TO.
IN THE END WE WILL PAY
INCREASED PREMIUMS. ON CLICK2HOUSTON.COM, WE’RE
ON CLICK2HOUSTON.COM, WE’RE
SHOWING YOU THE BEST WAY TO
FIND A FREE COVID TEST WHEN
YOU NEED ONE AND AVOID THE