New York hospital accused of ‘deception’ after charging more than $3,000 for Covid tests

One patient said the resulting bill felt like ‘deception’

Richard Hall
Tuesday 30 March 2021 22:16 BST
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A New York city hospital has been accused of deceiving patients after it charged more than $3,000 for routine coronavirus tests.

Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan charged more than 30 times the most common market rate for the test by adding on fees for an emergency room visit, according to the New York Times, which reviewed the bills.

Many who received the test at the hospital went in after seeing a bright blue sign posted outside which read “Covid testing site,” and were unaware of the extra costs.

Another hospital owned by the same company allegedly charged similarly exorbitant rates. One patient reportedly paid $2,793 for a drive-in Covid test at the Northwell Health-owned Huntingdon Hospital on Long Island.

“It felt like deception, and an effort to try and get money that they are not entitled to,” Ute Tabi told the newspaper.

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Although the patients weren’t charged directly for the tests, higher bills impact a person’s insurance costs in the long run.

The New York Times investigation into Covid test pricing found that Lenox Hill hospital bills $671 for a test, with the rest of the cost coming from emergency room fees.

Barbara Osborn, vice president of public relations at Northwell Health, told The Independent that hospitals are required by federal law to treat any patient arriving at an emergency department, and that patients “requesting a COVID test in an [emergency department] are clearly informed – both verbally and in writing -- that it is considered an emergency visit due to the need for a physical exam and evaluation of their medical history.”

She added: “it is important to note that payments we receive are based on mandated Medicare/Medicaid rates or payment rates negotiated with commercial insurers – neither patients nor insurers pay the stated charges typically listed in ‘explanation of benefits’ notices sent to patients by insurance companies.”

More than a dozen US states are set to open vaccine eligibility to all adults this week at the same time as cases are rising sharply.

Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota and Kansas opened eligibility to anyone 16 and older on Monday. New York opened vaccine appointments for all adults over the age of 30 on Tuesday.

Cases have risen by 10 per cent across the US compared to last week, amounting to some 60,000 cases per day, as some states have relaxed mitigation measures designed to stop the spread of the virus.

At a White House health briefing on Monday, Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued a stark warning of yet another spike.

"We have so much to look forward to, so much promise and potential of where we are and so much reason for hope," she said. "But right now, I’m scared."

"I have to share the truth, and I have to hope and trust you will listen," she added.

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