The higher fee would never hold up in a court of law, since there was no “mutual assent” about price. But what, if anything, should Dr. Lopez offer to pay? It paid 80 percent of that lower amount, and Dr. Lopez paid the remainder. Baptist Hospital is billing Dr. Lopez for nearly $8,000 more, saying it wants the full charges. “I’m an economist,” said Dr. Lopez, who teaches at the University of Memphis.

Source: New York Times December 18, 2018 09:56 UTC