[Warren Kiefer]

I am inviting comments on my following post. A few weeks ago I had a serious injury to my arm that required stitches. The Village's Emergency Room PA did a wonder job and advised me to return in ten days to have the stitches removed. He said it would only take a few minutes. I did everything he advised, on the tenth day I returned to the hospital, and was not happy that I was required to go thru the entire ER admitting process, arm band and all. Two days ago I received a bill for $287 for having ten stitches removed. Today I talked with the hospital accounting dept. and was told " that's the way we do it "... I have had numerous surgeries and removing stitches were always a part of the original surgery.

[villagetinker]

As I recall, back up North, the follow-up visit and stich removal was included as part of the original service. Now I do need to clarify that I had health care insurance through my employer, the visit was NOT work related, and I do not recall getting any bill.

[NotGolfer]

Did you inquire more information from a supervisor or the administrator??

[goodtimesintv]

Originally Posted by Warren Kiefer

I am inviting comments on my following post. A few weeks ago I had a serious injury to my arm that required stitches. The Village's Emergency Room PA did a wonder job and advised me to return in ten days to have the stitches removed. He said it would only take a few minutes. I did everything he advised, on the tenth day I returned to the hospital, and was not happy that I was required to go thru the entire ER admitting process, arm band and all. Two days ago I received a bill for $287 for having ten stitches removed. Today I talked with the hospital accounting dept. and was told " that's the way we do it "... I have had numerous surgeries and removing stitches were always a part of the original surgery.

What insurance/Medicare coverages do you have? The fee sounds ridiculous, but maybe once it goes thru the billing/reimbursement system, it will be paid by your insurance (or applied to your deductible?).

Otherwise, it sounds like they had you come back to them because of CYA medical liability/malpractice possibilities they'd be sued for...... if you would have a bad result or complication along the way or in the future, such as infection, wound that won't heal, ugly scar, etc.

There are lawyers who will sue for anything and everything. Heck, some would sue because the P.A. was assigned to it instead of a nationally-known plastic surgeon!

Even if a lawsuit didn't have much chance of going to and winning in court, it's a great way for charlatans and liars to extort "free money".....It's cheaper for the hospital/doctors to just suck it up and pay an $18,000 settlement than it would be to fire up a whole legal team to fight it for years in the courts.

Although most decent people here can't conceive of such extortion, it's done every day across the country, "because they can". (Thank the lawyer-politicians in congress and state legislatures).

Keep us posted.

[Topspinmo]

Actually IMO it sounds cheap. 20 years ago I cut my little finger with skil saw, it was really hacked up. So I was reluclent to go to ER. But, did. 6 hours later setting in the waiting room, the dr. said it was too mangled to sow up, I got tetneous shot and bandage seen on my way. Later I got bill for $1495 bucks. Which it was so outrageous the insurance would only pay $600. They came After me for the rest. The good outstanding citzen I am I paid with smile. While my wait I looked round and seen few freeloaders. I figured I was doing my good citzensship and paying for them beings I was working 12 hours day and there weren't.

[Carla B]

Wow, $1495? On Friday the 13th my husband's index finger had a bad run-in with a skil saw, also. The charge from Lake Urgent Care for cauterization and bandaging was $89. Urgent Care doc advised going to the ER for further cauterization. All the ER doc did was change the bandage. Bill from the ER was $464 but Medicare only allowed $42. of that. No wonder ER's have a tough time in a Medicare community.

[sallybowron]

WHERE i AM FROM STITCHES WERE ALWAYS REMOVED AT YOUR PCP'S OFFICE. i AM SHOCKED THEY WOULD HAVE YOU COME BACK. i DO UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS A SEPARATE er VISIT. i WOULDTICK WITH URGENT CARE FOR THIS TYPE OF THING.

[villagetinker]

My wife, a former nurse, agrees with the above that she would just go to the PCP and have stiches removed.

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

Did you inquire more information from a supervisor or the administrator??

No, only saw a nurse. All of this nonsense took over two hours (1 hour and 55 minutes sitting in an treatment room with seven others. Five minutes to remove the stitches.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Warren Kiefer

No, only saw a nurse. All of this nonsense took over two hours (1 hour and 55 minutes sitting in an treatment room with seven others. Five minutes to remove the stitches.

Needle nose pliers and an X-ACTO blade/carpet knife.

[Number 6]

Originally Posted by Warren Kiefer

I am inviting comments on my following post. A few weeks ago I had a serious injury to my arm that required stitches. The Village's Emergency Room PA did a wonder job and advised me to return in ten days to have the stitches removed. He said it would only take a few minutes. I did everything he advised, on the tenth day I returned to the hospital, and was not happy that I was required to go thru the entire ER admitting process, arm band and all. Two days ago I received a bill for $287 for having ten stitches removed. Today I talked with the hospital accounting dept. and was told " that's the way we do it "... I have had numerous surgeries and removing stitches were always a part of the original surgery.

There is a 10 day "post op" period for ED laceration repairs. If you had the stitches removed within 10 days they cannot charge you.

[Stdole]

Most if not all Emergency Rooms are leased by other doctors outside the normal Hospital Employees.. if you check your
billing statement when it comes... I will bet it will be by another group in another state... Time wasted in checking with
the Administrator... they will say not part of The Villages Hospital.. Lets us know if this is not true..

[gerryh1943]

I just had stitch in the 441 urgent care they stitch it in no time at all and went back in 9 days had them removed and I have BCBS that I pay for on my own and there was a one time charge.

[rubicon]

Just so posters can compare then and now. Nine years ago I had a cysts that infected. My doc gave me anti-biotics and referred me a surgeon. The surgeon told me that it had to be lanced at the hospital.
I went to the villages hospital admitting filled out the necessary paper work. They then told me [ my] share would be $1480. I told them to forget it. Went home called the surgeon and told him what happened and said I wanted him to take care of the problem at his office and if there was any pain I just bit on a stick. He asked me to come to his office the next morning. the antibiotics did the trick and he said he really didn't have to do anything. I said cut it so it will heal faster, he did and my insurance company and me saved money

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by number 6

there is a 10 day "post op" period for ed laceration repairs. If you had the stitches removed within 10 days they cannot charge you.

i spent over an hour with the patients accounts and was told sorry but every admission to a er is a separate charge. I made it plain that i followed the doctors orders totally, returned in 10 days etc. No matter, i was asked if i would like to take care of the bill today, i said ne, bill me !!!!!