NEWS

Patients angry about new fee at Genesis

Kate Snyder
Reporter

ZANESVILLE – A new facility fee at Genesis is spurring confusion and anger among patients, many of whom have been receiving the same kind of treatment — and expecting the same costs — for years.

medical doctor comforting senior patient

Both the rheumatology and endocrinology departments were reclassified as outpatient departments on Jan. 1 to spread the benefits of a national program that allows health care systems to buy medications at rock-bottom prices.

Certain federal regulations stipulate that outpatient billing include a facility fee, which is set by the hospital, Genesis CEO Matt Perry said.

Some patients see the fee as unfair and are angry that already expensive treatment is costing them more, sometimes hundreds of dollars more. The facility fee for all outpatient departments is based on the level of care and complexity of treatment patients receive during their visit, so there is no one set fee.

Wanda Boughton has a job but no health insurance and has paid her medical bills for rheumatoid arthritis treatment out of pocket without much trouble for years.

After her last visit, though, she received a bill in the mail for $363 that was labeled "outpatient visit." She was able to work with the department to pay $120 through discounts and charity care.

That's still too expensive, but getting treatment elsewhere might be worse.

"If I have to start driving, I'd lose half my work time," Boughton said. "I can't afford to lose my job."

Pam Wallace, Boughton's sister, said Boughton has tried to get insurance but couldn't afford paying both the rates and the deductible. In a year, when she turns 65, Boughton will try to get on Medicare.

"I have nothing against Genesis, but what they're doing is wrong. They are taking money out of Aunt Millie's pocket," Wallace said, referring to Perry's quote in a previous Times Recorder article.

Money collected from the facility fee goes toward the building, equipment and staff, including nurses.

Linda Jones, another rheumatology patient, is planning to stop getting treatment in Zanesville. She said she's reaching out to doctors in surrounding communities, asking whether they charge the outpatient fee.

"It will cost me less to pay for gas and go out of town," Jones said.

Her fee was $204, but insurance should pay for half and another discount brought the fee down to $86. There was no blood test, she said, and it hadn't been any more of an examination than usual.

Bob Jenkins, another rheumatology patient, said what the hospital is trying to do to help low-income patients isn't going to benefit most average patients, like himself.

Most are going to get hit with the extra fee and nothing else will change, he said. All it will do is make it more expensive for people to get treatment.

Jenkins hasn't seen a doctor since the new fee was enacted, and he's not sure he's going to see one here. But his choices are limited to Columbus or Lancaster, mostly.

"There aren't any options," he said. "We're pretty much at their mercy."

The Cancer Care Center, Interventional Pain Management Clinic and Wound Care Center have all also been outpatient departments and include a hospital fee for some time. Genesis CEO Matt Perry said there were no plans to reclassify every department as outpatient, but more could follow.

If patients have questions about billing, they can call Patient Billing Services at 740-454-4507 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

ksnyder2@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6752

Twitter: @KL_Snyder