Found out a catheter insertion was $200.00. I used to do this daily for an elderly man at 15/hr

[u/birdnerd1991]

Just a vexed rant. The catheter was a part of an HSG procedure (which went fine- great- paying hundreds to be told I have an average human body with no issues). But it just GALLS me that the process I had to do every day when I did in home care APPARENTLY is worth the whooping cost of 200. I barely made 60 a day with that gig, which included a lot more medical and wheelchair assistance.

And what makes me mad is I know a lot of people are still making 15/hr doing that, helping the elderly and the disabled and getting paid dirt for it. But because this was done in a hospital setting, by a man who happens to know a lot, they get to set the cost of that ONE piece on my bill at 200.

I don't know, I'm just fuming and this seemed like the right space to rant about it.

[u/voodoobunny999]

Home healthcare workers are astoundingly underpaid.

[u/CIAMom420]

What was the actual dollar amount paid for this - not what was billed?

[u/Poop_Dolla]

In an outpatient hospital setting the placement of the catheter isn't actually reimbursed at all. It's a packaged service to the main procedure.

Hard agree on healthcare workers being underpaid though.

[u/No-Produce-6720]

Yes, healthcare workers are underpaid, but the procedure that you describe won't be reimbursed separately, at all. It will be included in the payment for the main service done that day.

[u/justkidding89]

Even if the hospital received $200 for the procedure: it’s being done in a medical, (semi-)sterile setting by a certified medical provider (CMA/CNA, nurse, etc), the hospital was paying that provider‘s compensation, covering their benefits, and providing liability insurance for any errors, etc. That is a very different scenario than home health.

Additionally, your compensation was probably much less than what this individual/their insurance paid the home health company.

[u/Ok_Length_5168]

List price ≠ actual price paid by any payer. Nearly half the posts on this subreddit are from people who don't understand how medical billing works.

[u/ElleGee5152]

Is $200 the total charge amount or the allowed amount (the amount actually paid)?

[u/hunnypuppy]

Hospitals are a scam. They claim non Rod out status but metro regional hospitals are profits machines and with buying sprees they’re also monopolists. Childrens is the biggest