self pay, or not read this article. hospital billing

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourhealth/P74840.asp?Rating=10&PageID=74840#Rating

When my brother was in the hospital for an amputation, my mom got a bill that included $10 for an electrolytic battery. My mom asked exactly WHERE in my brother's leg, the battery was.

Sounds familiar...I'm just starting to get some bills from my 4 day hospital stay a few weeks ago. I found 2 charges for my pulmonologist...in hospital services. I couldn't imagine what they were for because I never saw him or any member of his staff. This is what happened....My hubby went home to get my cpap machine so I would have my own mask, headgear and machine. On the first night a young girl came in & said she was from "respiratory servoces" and was there to fit me with a cpap...when she saw that I had brought my own she asked if I needed it hooked up. I said "no, it's all hooked up". She walked out the door...the next day another young person came in to again "fit" me with a cpap machine...same scenerio. So,,,,,,,,,the respiratory Dr. charged me for 2 visits at $133 a piece.....I don't think soooooo!!! Granted my insurance would pay it, but then it goes against my lifetime total. I called his office and explained that I would not be paying these charges. The office manager said that they had no way of knowing that I didn't need their services....duh, don't they communicate? How can they NOT know that the Dr. or any staff member never entered my room. Oh well,,,rant is over. Kathy