Corporate-Owned Hospitals Demanding Payment Up Front for Surgeries

The landscape of healthcare in America is rapidly changing, with some hospitals now demanding payment up front for non-emergency surgeries. This shift is causing concern among patients who may not have the funds readily available to cover the cost of their procedures.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, some hospital systems are now requiring patients to pay in advance before undergoing surgery. This new policy is a departure from the traditional practice of billing patients after the procedure has been completed.

One example cited in the report is a surgical center in Florida owned by UnitedHealth, a healthcare insurance giant. The center defended the practice of upfront billing as a way to inform patients of the expected cost and streamline the billing process for the company.

This trend is part of a larger pattern of consolidation in the healthcare industry, with insurers, hospital systems, and private equity firms acquiring medical practices across the country. As a result, more doctors are now employed by corporations rather than operating independently.

Critics of this corporatization of healthcare worry that it could have negative consequences for patients. The new “pay-first, cut-later” policies at some medical practices may put financial strain on individuals who require surgery but cannot afford to pay up front.

One patient, 59-year-old Blake Young, shared his experience of being overcharged for a heart scan at a hospital in Tennessee. Despite paying in advance, Young was billed more than $2,500 for the procedure and had to fight for months to receive a refund.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, patients may find themselves facing new challenges when it comes to accessing necessary medical care. The debate over upfront payment for surgeries raises important questions about affordability and access to healthcare for all individuals.