The $49 Million Hospital Bill
A billing error at a Southern Arizona hospital left one man with a hospital bill for $49 million, according to the AP.
A malfunction in new computer software occurred July 2 and affected statements for 587 patients who were treated at Northern Cochise Community Hospital in Willcox, said Kim Aguirre, director of patient financial service for the hospital.Yes, ma'am. That is a doozy. The company the processes statements for the hospital is supposed to check for errors, but they were "busy" and "forgot." They've promised not to do it again. Let's hope the guy who got the $49 million bill wasn't in the hospital for heart issues."The highest statement is $49 million," Aguirre said. "I can't wait to hear from that person."
Peta-Anne Tenney received a bill for more than $100,000.
"I just laughed," she said. "I said to (my husband), 'Look at this, this is a doozy.
Ariz. hospital sends patient a $49M bill [Yahoo!]
(Photo:Northern Cochise Community Hospital)
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Comments:
Maybe they'll give you a prize if you can Guess the Correct amt. of your bill, rather than the overcharged one!
its been a while since I've gotten a physical, but DAMN!
We all know what computer error means. Is Ben still looking for summer help?
The 49 million dollar bill is at least obviously fake. If I got a $100k bill from a US hospital, I'd probably think it was real.
I hope none of them were cardiac patients.
Boy, that's going to mess their A/R when it gets corrected.
What do you want to bet that many of these people will still be sent to collectors for not paying the amount of their erroneous hospital bills?
Wow, those prices seem pretty reasonable. :)
How does this relate to consumers?
Not only is it about a hospital (something that we're not really active consumers on....i don't wake up and decide i'd like to go), but it is about a stated billing error. The hospital already knows that there was something wrong and isn't intent on screwing people out of it.
@crnk:
If you want news, read bbc.co.uk or cnn.com
This site has a nice mix of interesting and informative stories.
Don't read the stories that don't meet your standards, and please don't comment on them.
The Consumerist's ability to present well researched, but aggravating information and still manage to calm my nerves at the end of the article with a serving of dry humor makes all articles, no matter how disgusting, digestible. Thanks.
If that bill didn't give him a heartattack...
Has anyone ever gotten a billing error actually in their favor?
Ever?
That's the last time I get an ingrown toenail removed from there.
I am going to be in Willcox, AZ next Sunday. Let's hope I don't get sick.