The patient as customer
When buying a new car or TV, most consumers shop around and compare prices. But when it comes to medical care, cost is often an afterthought.Click to Continue »
View ArticleTriangle hospitals plague financially distressed
In the Triangle, hospitals turn to collection agencies, which aggressively pursue payment, sometimes even after patients have paid. Those who dont pay can be reported to credit agencies.Click to...
View ArticleHospital bypasses county OK, gets legislators’ help
Last year, when Carolinas HealthCare System wasn?t getting what it wanted from Mecklenburg County, it turned to state legislators for quicker, more favorable, treatment.Click to Continue »
View ArticleN.C. does little to protect patients
North Carolina is not among the states that require hospitals to provide free care to needy patients or to notify patients about the availability of such care.Click to Continue »
View ArticleN.C. hospitals build clout with money, personal contact
They employ thousands, give to charity, and save lives. They rarely lose at the General Assembly, and they sometimes come in with cleats high, says one legislator.Click to Continue »
View ArticleWakeMed seeks a smarter, cheaper emergency room
Raleigh hospital seeks approval for its plan to divert non-emergencies to other caregivers. So far, it has no takers.Click to Continue »
View ArticleAdvocates push for N.C. patient protection
An investigation by The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer found that while North Carolina hospitals get tax breaks worth hundreds of millions, some are doing little to help…Click to...
View ArticleLegislators say they’ll press hospitals on charity care, sales tax...
Charles Grassley, a leader on nonprofit issues, says Congress will act if hospitals dont do better on care for the poor. State legislative leaders say theyll push to repeal part…Click to Continue »
View ArticlePanel rebuffs Perdue on hospital bills
A House subcommittee on Thursday rejected Gov. Bev Perdues plan to make hospital bills more transparent and understandable.Click to Continue »
View ArticleN.C. hospitals charge more for chemo because they can, experts say
Many private insurance companies pay doctors a percentage of the average sales price for a particular drug. Hospitals, on the other hand, set their own charges, and insurers often pay…Click to Continue »
View ArticleN.C. nonprofit hospitals make big money on cancer drug markups
An analysis of data from more than 5,000 chemotherapy claims obtained by the newspapers also shows that hospitals and the doctors offices they own typically charge more for cancer drugs…Click to...
View ArticleN.C. nonprofit hospitals probed on use of drug discounts
The letters cite a recent investigation by The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer, which found that large nonprofit hospitals are dramatically inflating prices on chemotherapy drugs at...
View ArticleAG Roy Cooper will seek ways to curb N.C. hospital prices
Cooper?s move comes amid antitrust investigations into hospitals in other states. It also follows a News & Observer story showing that large nonprofit hospitals are dramatically inflating prices on...
View ArticleHandling hospital bills
Understand your insurance plan deductibles, co-pays, maximum payouts, exclusions. Call ahead to the insurance company, hospital and doctors office to get estimates of the cost and what your...
View ArticleCharlotte hospital system sues thousands of patients
Getting liens against homes ensures payment at some point. But some of the patients appear to be eligible for free or reduced-price care.Click to Continue »
View ArticleCredit cards issued for debt collection
Theyre interest-free for a year. But when payments are missed, rates can rise sharply.Click to Continue »
View ArticleHospitals can seize wages
Wilkes Regional Medical uses that tactic, but its unclear how often.Click to Continue »
View ArticleThe patient as customer
When buying a new car or TV, most consumers shop around and compare prices. But when it comes to medical care, cost is often an afterthought.Click to Continue »
View ArticleMeet the reporters
A joint team from two newspapers reported and edited this project.Click to Continue »
View ArticleDoctors join hospitals, and prices soar
North Carolina patients pay more for many tests and procedures if their physician is employed by a hospital, an investigation by The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer has…Click to...
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