Leon A.
I visited the Cleveland Clinic in July…
I visited the Cleveland Clinic in July for treatment of a kidney stone. Fortunately, there weren't many patients waiting, so I was admitted right away. I was placed on a gurney in the hallway for approximately three hours since no rooms were available. I appreciated the prompt attention I received; As far as the attention and treatment received I would give them 4 stars. As far as the billing goes if I could put these greedy people in prison for defrauding Taxpaying Americans I would. However, I was shocked when I received an itemized bill sent to Medicare/Aetna. The charges were as follows: 1. IV Therapy: $1,396.00 2. Laboratory: $1,018.00 3. CT Scan: $7,839.00 4. Emergency Room: $2,571.00 (despite never being in a room) 5. Pharmacy: $35.30 6. Self Administered Drugs: $8.45 7. Outpatient New Moderate: $481.00 The total bill amounted to an astonishing $13,528.75 for just three hours of service. The charge for the CT scan alone is outrageous—almost $8,000! This is a clear example of healthcare pricing issues that burden taxpayers and patients alike. To add to my frustration, I was charged for an emergency room service even though I was never placed in a room; after about three hours, I was asked to wait for my wife in the waiting area because they needed the gurney. When I called to inquire about the cost of a hospital stay, I received no clear answer. Now, I'm actively seeking alternatives for emergency care, ideally far away from the Cleveland Clinic. I can't see myself ever returning, even with most of the bill covered by Medicare/Aetna. To top it all off, they sent me a bill for an additional $214.96, as if the $13,528.75 wasn't enough. This situation is unacceptable.