Becker's Hospital Review

27 CFO / FINANCE Patient received $13K bill after donating his kidney By Alia Paavola A lthough living organ donors are not supposed to receive bills for trans- plant-related care, a Nevada man received a $13,064 medical bill aer he donated his kidney, ProPublica reported Feb. 11. Before Elliot Malin donated his kidney to his 28-year-old cousin Scott Kline in July 2021, he was assured he wouldn't foot the bill for the $160,000 surgery. e hospital received preauthorization from Mr. Kline's insurance plan, which confirmed it would cover Mr. Malin's medical costs. Despite the assurance, in September 2021, Mr. Malin received a $13,064 bill for anesthesia services. While shocked by the amount, Mr. Malin notified the hospital and forgot about the bill, he told ProPublica. A month later a second notice arrived. en on Dec. 6, 2021, a notice arrived that threatened "further collection activity" on the outstanding bill. "Final notice! Your account is now considered delinquent," the notice read, according to ProPublica. e bill and notice was from NorthStar Anesthesia, the firm that provides an- esthesia services at Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, where the transplant took place. Mr. Malin said on Dec. 7, 2021, he called NorthStar Anesthesia, the billing company and Baylor Scott & White to resolve the issue. He also complained on Twitter about the aggressive billing practice. He told ProPublica two weeks later that there was nothing else he could do and was waiting to see if he was sent to collections. Mr. Malin reportedly heard nothing from any party until Jan. 19, one day aer ProPublica reached out to NorthStar Anesthesia for comment. "e CFO of NorthStar just called me and told me she's taken care of the bill," Mr. Malin told ProPublica on Jan. 19. On Jan. 20, NorthStar Anesthesia emailed Mr. Malin to let him know he would not be responsible for the bill, that he was not sent to collections and that his credit wouldn't be hit. "On behalf of NorthStar, I apologize for causing any confusion or concern for you regarding this matter and assure you that it has been resolved," Kate Stets, the company's CFO, told Mr. Malin. Ms. Stets said that on Dec. 7, 2021, the bill was sent to the responsible parties, but Mr. Malin was not notified. Ms. Stets also said the company adjusted its policy to prevent a similar instance from happening in future transplant cases. "To be clear, it is not NorthStar's policy to bill transplant donors for bills relat- ed to their donation surgeries," Ms. Stets wrote, according to ProPublica. "We recognize the well-established public policy standard and practice that trans- plant donors should not be billed for such services — that we and the nation's healthcare system have a responsibility to foster and encourage such acts of selflessness and generosity." NorthStar Anesthesia told ProPublica that it "resolved the error immediately" and closed the account "prior to any inquiry from ProPublica." e company added that although healthcare billing can be complex, "these occurrences are rare." n Providence, Kaiser say conditions set by attorney general threaten partnership By Alia Paavola P rovidence St. Mary Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente expressed disap- pointment with conditions set by the California attorney general on their proposed partnership that involves building a hospital, The Victorville Daily Press reported Jan. 25. California Attorney General Rob Bonta in December 2021 approved the partnership be- tween Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanen- te and Apple Valley, Calif.-based Providence St. Mary Medical Center with several conditions. The partnership would allow the two organi- zations to create a new company, of which St. Mary will have 70 percent ownership and Kai- ser will have 30 percent. The two will also build a new 47-bed hospital in Victorville, Calif., as part of the partnership. The conditions attached to the approval in- cluded that the organizations must remain in- dependent, put price caps on current St. Mary contracts, reduce profit-sharing and lessen the discount St. Mary's gives Kaiser on its reim- bursement rates. Providence said both healthcare providers re- main "disappointed" by the restrictions, and they limit the ability of both parties to move forward with the partnership. Providence add- ed that the restrictions would place the hospi- tal at a distinct disadvantage and impose many uncertain future obligations. "We are disappointed the attorney general's office has made our vision difficult to pursue under the current restrictions, which put at risk the future operation," Providence South- ern California CEO Kevin Manemann told the Press. "We are strongly committed to the High Desert community and are currently evaluating next steps." Kaiser also said the conditions placed on the part- nership would make it "impossible to go forward." "We remain dedicated to ensuring our mem- bers have access to great hospital care in the High Desert," Julie Miller-Phipps, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Ha- waii Health Plan and Hospitals, told the Press. At the time of publication in March, the plan to build the hospital was still up in the air. n

• Cover