{"id":2242568,"date":"2024-05-11T17:47:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-11T21:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-corporate-hospital-systems-buy-medical-practices-nationwide-many-now-demanding-payment-upfront-for-procedures\/"},"modified":"2024-05-11T17:50:58","modified_gmt":"2024-05-11T21:50:58","slug":"as-corporate-hospital-systems-buy-medical-practices-nationwide-many-now-demanding-payment-upfront-for-procedures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/as-corporate-hospital-systems-buy-medical-practices-nationwide-many-now-demanding-payment-upfront-for-procedures\/","title":{"rendered":"With Corporate Hospital Systems acquiring medical practices nationwide, upfront payment for procedures is becoming common"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fas-corporate-hospital-systems-buy-medical-practices-nationwide-many-now-demanding-payment-upfront-for-procedures%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2242568&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In the evolving healthcare sector, Corporate Hospital Systems are acquiring medical practices nationwide, leading\u2062 to a \u200dgrowing trend of \u2063upfront \u2064payment requests for procedures. This change impacts \u2063patient care, with\u200c some unable to \u2063afford immediate treatment,\u200b highlighting financial barriers in accessing healthcare services. In the changing \u200dhealthcare landscape, \u2062Corporate Hospital Systems are buying \u2063medical practices nationwide, \u200bresulting in an increasing demand for upfront payments\u200b for procedures. This \u2062shift affects\u2063 patient care, creating financial hurdles for some individuals who struggle to afford immediate treatment, underscoring challenges in accessing\u2064 healthcare services.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>  <\/p>\n<h2>As Corporate Hospital Systems Buy Medical Practices Nationwide, Many Now Demanding Payment Upfront for Procedures<\/h2>\n<p> <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/georgeupper\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/georgeupper\/%20\"><span>George C. Upper III<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 11, 2024 at 12:32pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Hospitals are changing the way they operate \u2014 no pun intended \u2014 and its putting some patients\u2019 health at risk.<\/p>\n<p>It used to be common practice for hospitals and other medical facilities to calculate costs and send bills to patients after they\u2019d completed the important part, i.e. treating the patient.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s less true today than it used to be, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/health\/healthcare\/hospitals-pay-before-treatment-patients-c477e2d6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Wall Street Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Collecting payment in advance is more and more common at medical centers, and while that saves hospitals time and money collecting on bills later, it means that some patients don\u2019t get the care they need when they need it, because they can\u2019t come up with the cash up front.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose who can\u2019t come up with the sums have been forced to put off procedures,\u201d the Journal reported Thursday in an article titled \u201cHospitals Are Refusing to Do Surgeries Unless You Pay In Full First.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The outlet also noted that patients are sometimes overcharged, which puts them in the position of having to \u201cfight\u201d a large corporate entity to get a refund of the overpayment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmong the procedures that hospitals and surgery centers are seeking prepayments for are knee replacements, CT scans and births,\u201d the Journal reported.<\/p>\n<p>The outlet also noted that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-whats-happening-in-the-idaho-abortion-case-at-the-supreme-court\/\" title=\"Latest Updates on Idaho Abortion Case at Supreme Court\">federal law requires hospitals<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">provide medical treatment<\/a> in emergency situations. Of course, what a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/jaw-dropping-mass-hospitals-suppress-race-drug-babies-black\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hospital<\/a> considers an emergency may differ from how the term might be defined by someone experiencing severe pain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need those patients who are able to pay to do so,\u201d said Leslie Taylor, a spokeswoman for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, which owns one general hospital in Arkansas<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in Florida Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">health care<\/a> getting worse in America?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>That hospital has in the past rescheduled some patients\u2019 care until after they pay up, although they say they only do so with the approval of doctors.<\/p>\n<p>Health care consulting company Kodiak Solutions told the Journal that 23 percent of patient bills are now being paid before treatment is provided, up from 20 percent only two years ago.<\/p>\n<p>That may not seem like a huge increase, but considering that about half of American adults say they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/department-store-stocks-plummet-americans-savings-accounts-dry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">don\u2019t have more<\/a> than $500 available to pay for sudden medical issues, according to the Journal, it\u2019s a trend that could cause serious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-election-disaster-banking-giant-warns-2024-devastation-americans-excess-savings-mostly-spent-oct\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">problems for many<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Journal spotlighted two cases of people affected by pay-in-advance policies, both of which had happy endings.<\/p>\n<p>The first was that of Heather Miconi, whose daughter needed adenoid and tonsil surgery to help her breathe \u2014 not an emergency, but obviously important.<\/p>\n<p>Miconi already works three jobs and has a high-deductible <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-administration-makes-rule-change-give-taxpayer-funded-health-insurance-100000-illegal-immigrants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">insurance policy<\/a>, so she needed $2,000 to pay for the procedure in advance. She had to start a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/2ugass-surgery-costs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GoFundMe<\/a> to raise the funds.<\/p>\n<p>The good news in Miconi\u2019s case is that the fundraiser has already brought in nearly $10,000. Miconi wrote on the site that she\u2019ll use the extra to pay down medical bills that have been accumulating interest since her daughter\u2019s 2021 hospitalization.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis has lifted a huge burden from our lives and I am forever grateful,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The other example cited by the Journal was that of Blake Young, who needed a heart screening last November. He paid $3,600 in advance, only to find out later that he\u2019d been overcharged by almost 200 percent, and the hospital owed him $2,546.<\/p>\n<p>It took Young over six months to get his money back, and he had to involve the Better Business Bureau to do it.<\/p>\n<p>The hospital, CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, did eventually offer Young an apology \u2014 and, eventually, a check.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>I heard a chilling comment the other day: \u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>That wasn\u2019t said by a conspiracy theorist or a doomsday prophet. No, former U.S. national security advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said that to the founder of The Western Journal, Floyd Brown.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Gen. Flynn\u2019s warning means that the 2024 election is the most important election for every single living American. If we lose this one to the wealthy elites who hate us, hate God, and hate what America stands for, we can only assume that 248 years of American history and the values we hold dear to our hearts may soon vanish.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The end game is here, and as Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>All of this means that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, it\u2019s over. We have the platform, the journalists, and the experience to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-rises-as-he-promises-hes-only-begun-to-fight-put-on-full-armor-of-god-to-fight-the-left\/\" title=\"DeSantis Rises As He Promises He\u2019s \u2018Only Begun To Fight\u2019: \u2018Put On Full Armor Of God\u2019 To Fight The Left\">fight back hard<\/a>, but Big Tech is strangling us through advertising blacklists, shadow bans, and algorithms. Did you know that we\u2019ve been blacklisted by 90% of advertisers? Without direct support from you, our readers, we can\u2019t continue the fight.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Can we count on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>your support<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? It may not seem like much, but a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Western Journal Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  can make all the difference in the world because when you support us directly, you cut Big Tech out of the picture. They lose control. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A monthly Western Journal Membership costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We are literally counting on you because without our members, The Western Journal would cease to exist. Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  in the fight? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Sincerely,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-44802\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/georgeupper\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-44802\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"more-info-tab-radio-44802\">More<span> Biographical Information<\/span><\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-44802\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-44802\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>George Upper is the former Editor-in-Chief of The Western Journal and was a weekly co-host of &#8220;WJ Live,&#8221; powered by The Western Journal. He is currently a contributing editor in the areas of faith, politics and culture. A former U.S. Army special operator, teacher and consultant, he is a lifetime member of the NRA and an active volunteer leader in his church. Born in Foxborough, Massachusetts, he has lived most of his life in central North Carolina.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>  George Upper, is the former editor-in-chief of The Western Journal and is now a contributing editor in the areas of faith, politics and culture. He currently serves as the connections pastor at Awestruck Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is a former U.S. Army special operator, teacher, manager and consultant. Born in Massachusetts, he graduated from Foxborough High School before joining the Army and spending most of the next three years at Fort Bragg. He holds bachelor&#8217;s and master&#8217;s degrees in English as well as a Master&#8217;s in Business Administration, all from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He and his wife life only a short drive from his three children, their spouses and his grandchildren. He is a lifetime member of the NRA and in his spare time he shoots, reads a lot of Lawrence Block and John D. MacDonald, and watches Bruce Campbell movies. He is a fan of individual freedom, Tommy Bahama, fine-point G-2 pens and the Oxford comma. <\/p>\n<p>  Birthplace <\/p>\n<p>  Foxborough, Massachusetts <\/p>\n<p>  Nationality <\/p>\n<p>  American <\/p>\n<p>  Honors\/Awards <\/p>\n<p>  Beta Gamma Sigma <\/p>\n<p>  Education <\/p>\n<p>  B.A., English, UNCG; M.A., English, UNCG; MBA, UNCG <\/p>\n<p>  Location <\/p>\n<p>  North Carolina <\/p>\n<p>  Languages Spoken <\/p>\n<p>  English <\/p>\n<p>  Topics of Expertise <\/p>\n<p>  Faith, Business, Leadership and Management, Military, Politics <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a shifting healthcare landscape, Corporate Hospital Systems acquiring medical practices nationwide are increasingly requesting upfront payment for procedures. This change is impacting patient care and safety, highlighting the evolving dynamics within hospitals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2010,"featured_media":2242569,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Adventist-Health-White-Memorial-Medical-Center.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2242568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Adventist-Health-White-Memorial-Medical-Center.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2242568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242568\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2242569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2242568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2242568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2242568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}