An intubated coronavirus patient was declining rapidly when doctors decided to airlift her to a hospital with better critical care resources. “We have to transfer her now.”The patient was flown by helicopter from one Philadelphia hospital to another 20 miles away. When she came home, a letter arrived: The air ambulance company said she owed $52,112 for the trip. Last year, Congress abandoned its attempt to prevent surprise bills like this one, and coronavirus patients are now paying the price. Bills submitted to The New York Times show that patients often face surprise charges from out-of-network doctors, ambulances and medical laboratories they did not pick or even realize were involved in their care.

Source: New York Times October 13, 2020 14:08 UTC