The
Del Norte Healthcare District is an elected public agency in Del Norte
County, California. The following content was approved by unanimous vote
of the District's Board of Directors.
Join Our Fight Against Overpriced Healthcare
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The Del Norte Healthcare District is
on a mission. After repeated requests for help from our residents and
visitors, we are fighting high priced healthcare and incomprehensible
medical bills.
The public brought us stories of
brief doctor visits followed by $2,000 doctor bills, colonoscopy charges
of $6,000, and hospital bills exceeding $10,000 for minor surgery
performed in Crescent City. Nationwide, roughly $3.5 trillion is spent
yearly on healthcare--more than $10,000 per person, every year. Now, the
Healthcare District is comparing charges at local and out of area
facilities to help patients find cost-effective care.
Why are rising healthcare costs
important? Because we all pay for it--whether by larger “out of pocket”
costs, lower wages (to make up for the higher cost for employers to
provide healthcare coverage), higher taxes (to pay for government
sponsored health programs) and more “job outsourcing” (where employers
send jobs out of state or overseas to avoid high priced healthcare at
home).
Why are healthcare costs out of
control? In part, because the prices charged to patients are often a
closely guarded secret. Although the “list price” of tests and
procedures (called “chargemaster” rates) is published by hospital
systems, the real price you pay (the “negotiated rate”) is only known to
hospital systems and insurance companies.
How can we find out the real prices charged for healthcare? With two documents:
(1) Your itemized bill (hospitals generally mail out a summary bill but not an itemized bill unless you specifically request it).
(2) Your
insurance company or Medicare Explanation of Benefits (which will show
both the fee charged by the hospital or provider and the amount approved
by the insurer).
How can you help tackle the problem
of high-priced healthcare? By providing the Del Norte Healthcare
District with a copy of your itemized bill and Explanation of
Benefits. We will add your data (anonymously) to our growing list of
healthcare prices charged by doctors, hospitals, and testing
facilities—local and out of area. And we will publish the result and
post the data on our website.
If you would like to help by sharing your bills and insurance statements, just email them to the Healthcare District at dnhcd@delnortehealth.com
or drop off at our office in the Wellness Center on 550 E. Washington
Blvd., suite 400, from 8 am to 12 noon weekdays. If you prefer to remain
anonymous, simply remove your identifying information. If you would
like us to review your charges and follow up with you, please provide
your contact information, which we will not release to anyone.
As always, feel free to contact the Del
Norte Healthcare District with your healthcare related ideas, or attend
our monthly meetings held the fourth Tuesday of each month (except
December when we meet on the 17th),
6:30 pm at the Wellness Center on 550 E. Washington Blvd., Crescent
City. Executive Secretary Hendricks Doris Hendricks is also available by
phone at (707) 464-9494.
Visit us on the web at http://delnortehealthcare.com/
We look forward to hearing from you!
Del Norte Healthcare District Board of Directors,
Elizabeth Austen Kevin Caldwell, M.D. Gregory Duncan, M.D.
Dohn Henion, Esq. Michael Young
