Medical News: Medicare Update on Billing for Medical Mistakes

Medical News: As of October 2008, Medicare will no longer pay hospital bills for medical care related to  hospital mistakes or preventable medical errors. In August 2008, Medicare officials urged state Medicaid directors to implement similar policies.

23 states have approved policies stating that hospitals will not be permitted to bill patients or insurance carriers for medical mistakes. Those policies are already in effect in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania.

Three other states are currently considering legislation on this issue, and five states have agreed to waive fees for “never events” identified by the National Quality Forum, a patient safety and advocacy agency.

Additionally, several of the U.S.’s largest health insurance carriers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and Aetna, have also announced they no longer will pay for hospital charges related to a preventable medical mistake.

A July 2008 study from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ARHQ) estimated that medical mistakes and preventable surgical errors cost employers nearly $1.5 billion a year.

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see also:

Medicare and Medical Billing Mistakes Medical News Update: Medicare policies on billing for medical mistakes
Medical News: Update on Medicare policies on medical mistakes billing

Medicare Medical Malpractice: Medicare takes a stand on hospital charges
Medicare will no longer pay hospitals medical malpractice mistakes