The U.S. medical billing system allows room for common mistakes and has barriers to them getting resolved, a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has revealed.
The report looks at how medical bills as the result of an emergency lack transparent pricing and involve complex insurance rules. It highlighted the reality that patients may not sign a billing agreement until after receiving treatment, and in desperation may feel pressure to accept any cost for treatment.
Unpaid bills, even if incorrect, can end up in collections, which can lead to bad credit, increased risk of bankruptcy, missed medical care and unstable employment.
