[clueless]

so a whole story about a billing mistake, which they could have figured out without involving the news org?

[schemescape]

Where does it say it's a billing mistake?

[jlmorton]

The article does not say it's a billing mistake, but it notes that NorthBay Healthcare lists a price online of $547.65 for a rabies vaccine. Surely human rabies immunoglobulin would be another $1,000, maybe more, but there is no chance on Earth that it is $100,000 each.

NorthBay Healthcare is a non-profit hospital.

This is a very, very obvious billing mistake. And while I have zero evidence for what I am about to say, I would be willing to bet that ABC7News did not even share the case they were preparing to discuss with the hospital. They just wanted to run the story, and so they asked the hospital for generic comment about a patient's large bill.

I've looked for follow-up to this two-month old story, and I can't find any. But I am sure it's a billing mistake.

[schemescape]

Thanks for pointing out that this article is not brand new. I’m curious to see if there is an eventual follow-up. If not, then that would be extremely disappointing.

[darth_avocado]

“Billing mistakes” happen way too often in this country and the hospitals don’t fix them that easily.

[1letterunixname]

Good luck with them ever admitting to any mistake. They have collectors who don't care who will suck every penny. Just don't get sick in America.

[ska]

The insurance paid out 58,000, the couple paid out 3000-something. So even if the initial 200k was a 'mistake', the actual billed service is insane for a $600 shot (2x). The entire bill should have been much less than their out of pocket.

So there is more to the story.