Letter to Government Officials regarding Health Care

The letter below was sent to the following government officials:

• President Trump
• Senators Grassley, Casey, and Toomey
• Representative Thompson
• Governor Wolf
• State Representatives Struzzi and White

Our healthcare system is corrupted and needs to be fixed. Please make this a priority on the legislative agenda.

In August of 2018, I went to my doctor and she ordered routine blood work for me to have done. A few days later I went to the Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) to have the lab work done. At the time, IRMC said insurance would not pay for it because it wasn't coded correctly. IRMC told me they would contact my doctor and have them recode the order and it should be fine.

Approximately six weeks later I get a bill from IRMC in the amount of $161.62. I contacted IRMC and they said insurance did not pay for the entire amount and I needed to pay the rest. I contacted the insurance company and they said that part of the blood work was not covered because I am healthy. I contacted the doctor's office and they said it is all routine blood work that gets done and should be covered.

IRMC blamed the insurance. The insurance blamed the doctor's office. The doctor's office said there was nothing they could do because they are part of a different hospital group. Finally, at the end of November I gave up and just paid the bill. I made it clear to IRMC, my doctor's office, and the insurance company that I will no longer be participating in wellness type visits. All of my care will now go through Urgentcare or Emergency room care visits, which will ultimately cost the insurance company more than if they would just cover routine care.

But here is where the true corruption lies:
IRMC billed the insurance for $340.
Insurance paid $46.08.
I paid $161.62.
The discounted insurance rate was apparently equal to $132.30.

However, the ultimate corruption is in the fact that I could have just walked in off the street with no doctor's order and requested the lab work for $40 at IRMC.

So, how much does this routine blood work really cost? $340 as billed by IRMC? $207.70 as paid for by myself and the insurance? Or $40 if I just walk in to the lab and request the blood work? Even better, I found out that my employer is now providing a free wellness blood work program sponsored by non other than IRMC! Truly amazing and corrupted. I would be interested to hear Stephen Wolfe, the President and CEO of IRMC who makes over $500,000 a year, try to explain this to me or other people trying to make sense of the healthcare system.

Once again, our healthcare system is corrupted and needs fixed. Please make this a priority on the legislative agenda in the coming year.

Sincerely,