Bill 9 of 15
Hospital system billOutpatient clinic visit, 10/21
Facility fee: $185.00
Facility fee: $185.00
You already paid the doctor’s copay. The clinic is owned by the hospital. Your EOB lists a separate facility claim, patient responsibility $185.00.
What is the right move?
Correct. Not quite. It feels like being charged twice, and it is still usually valid. When a hospital owns a clinic, it can bill a facility fee for the use of the building and staff, in addition to the doctor’s own fee. Your plan processed it and the EOB matches, so the balance is yours. A few states now restrict these fees, so a quick check of your state’s rules is reasonable. Next time, ask when booking whether the office bills as a hospital outpatient department.
More: You Paid Your Copay. Why Did the Hospital Send You Another Bill?