A Guide to Your Rights as a Patient: Understanding Medical Billing and Protections

• 1. Right to an Itemized Bill As a patient, you have the right to request and receive an itemized bill that provides a detailed breakdown of all charges for services provided during your hospital stay or visit. This allows you to review individual charges and identify any potential errors or discrepancies.
• 2. Right to Dispute Errors If you find any errors or discrepancies in your medical bill, you have the right to dispute them. Contact the healthcare provider's billing department to address your concerns and request corrections.
• 3. Protections Against Surprise Billing The No Surprises Act protects patients from surprise medical bills for out-of-network services received at in-network facilities, or from out-of-network providers without the patient's consent. Ensure you're aware of these protections and check if they apply to your situation.
• 4. Right to Access Medical Records You have the right to request, review, and receive copies of your medical records. This includes doctor's notes, lab results, imaging reports, and any other information related to your healthcare.
• 5. Right to Confidentiality and Privacy Your personal health information is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Healthcare providers and organizations must maintain the confidentiality and privacy of your medical records, and they cannot share your information without your consent, unless required by law.
• 6. Right to Informed Consent Before undergoing any medical treatment or procedure, you have the right to be informed about the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives. Healthcare providers must obtain your consent before proceeding with the treatment, ensuring you fully understand the implications.
• 7. Right to Choose Healthcare Providers You have the right to choose your healthcare providers, including doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals, based on your preferences and insurance coverage.
• 8. Right to Emergency Care Hospitals that participate in Medicare and offer emergency services must provide a medical screening examination to anyone who requests it, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. If an emergency medical condition is found, the hospital must provide stabilizing treatment or appropriate transfer to another facility.
• 9. Right to Non-Discrimination You have the right to receive healthcare services without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. This includes protection against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.
• 10. Right to Participate in Treatment Decisions You have the right to actively participate in decisions regarding your healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment or choose among available options. Healthcare providers should involve you in the decision-making process and consider your preferences, values, and goals.

By understanding your rights as a patient, you can better navigate the often-complex world of medical billing and protect yourself from overpaying for healthcare services. Remember to request itemized bills, dispute errors, and be aware of your protections against surprise billing. At Empowered Healthcare Consumer, we're dedicated to supporting you through this challenging journey. Our “Understand Your Medical Bill” tool simplifies complex medical bills, highlighting potential errors and overcharges. Browse through our website for additional resources and tools that can help you regain control of your healthcare finances.