Medical Billing Resources

The Right Care Alliance (RCA) aims for an upheaval of the healthcare system itself, given the deeply-rooted deficiencies in American healthcare. At the same time, we recognize the immediate needs of people facing medical debt, issues with medical billing, and in the overall navigation of U.S. healthcare. Accordingly, the RCA has compiled a running clearinghouse of resources to support patients before, during, and after the process of receiving and paying for medical services, and strengthen our collective ability to advocate for our rights.

What To Do When You Get A Bill

• https://apnews.com/article/how-to-deal-with-big-medical-bills-b6eae376d55c81dbd151da35501247d4
  • Explains steps to take upon receiving a medical bill including: checking the numbers, knowing the law, seeking outside help, financial assistance, and bargaining/budgeting  
• https://www.npr.org/2023/03/24/1165953653/medical-bills-debt-negotiation-forgiveness
  • Explains various topics about navigating a medical bill including: determining if you are eligible for the hospital’s charity care program, importance of asking for an itemized bill, payment plans, and practical ways to negotiate your bill

Understanding Costs Upfront – Planning For Healthcare Before You Get The Care

• https://clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2017/04/find-stuff-costs-10-easy-questions/
  • Questions to ask and resources to use when exploring healthcare options to help make the most financially informed decision
• https://www.healthcare.gov/community-health-centers/ 
  • Provides resources for finding low-cost healthcare at local community centers
• https://www.goodrx.com/healthcare-access/medical-debt/questions-to-anticipate-costs-upfront 
  • Answers questions consumers of healthcare commonly have when trying to understand and navigate the healthcare system
    • What to consider when making good quality and affordable healthcare decisions in terms of insurance, providers, and options for services/treatments
• Health Insurance 101: A Primer on Navigating Your Healthcare
  • Explains how health insurance works in plain language, defines commonly used vocab
  • Explains why health insurance is important (and the risks of not having it)
  • Provides options for private health insurance and breaks each option down (including pricing “metal tiers”)
• Health insurance plans & prices | HealthCare.gov
  • Helps patients determine eligibility
• https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2020-12-08-hospital-presentation.pdf 
  • Breaks down the Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule
    • Helps healthcare consumers understand the ruling and how that impacts pricing and services
• https://turquoise.health/
  • A search engine allowing you to see whether specific healthcare services are offered and their cost in your designated zip code

Understanding The Problem (All The Stats)

• U.S. Health Care from a Global Perspective, 2022 | Commonwealth Fund
  • US healthcare ranking
  • More statistics providing data as to why our healthcare system is insufficient

Places To Get Help

• We negotiate hospital bills for you | Goodbill
  • A service that reviews medical bills and advocates on behalf of the customer with the medical facility.
• End Medical Debt Now – Maryland flyer (attached as another doc in this folder)
• How to get help with medical expenses | USAGov
  • Provides resources for paying for medical expenses including: 
    • Government programs, options for paying for prescription drugs, and tools to find free or low-cost vaccines.

Next Steps: Call To Action

• Attend one of the Right Care Alliance’s virtual or in-person events on the topic of medical debt
• Join the Letter to the Editor (LTE) team to share your perspective on predatory medical billing practices.
• Write a letter to a hospital in your area demanding they stop all debt-collection activities an cancel their patients’ existing debts.
• Reach out to your locally elected official to implement regulatory and legislative relief for patients dealing with medical debt.
• Raise money and funds for organizations like the RCA, who are fighting to end the status quo in exorbitant health care billing practices.

Searching for the Right Care

Podcast 1 How to More Effectively Communicate with Healthcare Professionals

Part 1 – We discuss why patients have a difficult time talking to their healthcare providers and advocating for themselves. We also talk to experts in the field who discuss how we can become more comfortable partnering with healthcare professionals to improve our health and well-being. Spotify link here

Part 2 – In the second half of our discussion, we further examine how to become more involved in our healthcare and how to advocate for others in need. Spotify link here 

Additional Resources From Organizations Supported by RCA Activists

EngagedPatients.org

• Empowered Patient Hospital Guide
• Home Care After Surgery Fact Sheet
• Inpatient Progress Sheet
• Warning Signs of a Rapidly Declining Patient Page
• Preparing for a HealthCare Visit Form
• Surgical Patient Checklist

• Charity Care Handbook
• How to Fill Out Your Hospitals Charity Care Application Help Sheet

• Care Over Cost Campaign Page

 

If you are involved in another organization focused on fighting to change the US healthcare system in the US  and want us to include your website or resources here for others in the Right Care Alliance to find please email us, and we will be sure to include resources from organizations that you are involved in here too.

 

Join the movement to fight this systemically, get rid of medical debt for everybody!

 

To suggest any additions or edits to this list or to join the LTE team, please contact vtalon@rightcarealliance.org

Member of the Letters to the Editor (LTE) Team at the Right Care Alliance