How do I effectively challenge my hospital billing?
During my Open long-limb retrocolic Roux-en-Y bypass surgery there was a complication. I am not in the medical field so I certainly am not a expert in any way. I will copy from my operative report. "The distal stomach was divided after two TA-90 staplers had been placed across the approximately 4 cm long stomach margin. These were tightened into position and fired. The stomach was divided between staple lines. Immediately, the proximal pouch spacer was removed. The staple line bled quite significantly and required an oversew to complete the line. This was done with running 3-0 PDS. The stapler was then released from the lower pouch. Immediately, bleeding began along the greater curvature portion of the staple line, and gastric spillage was evident. The stapler had misfired. The entire staple line was grasped with Babcock clamps and oversewn with 3-0 and then oversewn again with 2-0 PDS suture." I was not aware of any of this until today, over 2 months after my surgery when I obtained a copy of my operative report. I then looked over my bill statement from the hospital and saw that the TA-90 Staplers and cartridges were bill to me and they were very expensive. Should have to pay for something that apparently did not work properly "misfired"? Additionally should I have to pay for other costs associated with the correction of the TA-90 staple misfire, ie. additional OR time? I am not sure this is the correct forum for this question but I would appreciate any comments or input. Thanks in advance.
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