Letter: Bill left during heart procedure spikes blood pressure

Posted on by Letters
Graphic by Lori Deaton

I’m writing this because I was a patient at Mission Health for four days in February. I saw the news story on WLOS about patients filing complaints with state Attorney General Josh Stein. My care from the doctors and nurses was excellent, despite their staff shortages.

My complaint concerns their manner of billing. I was having a cardiac catheterization done to see if I had a blockage in an artery. When I came back to my room, on my nightstand was my patient financial responsibility statement. This is a fancy word for my bill! The nurse took my blood pressure, and it was off the charts. I’m having a serious procedure done, and they leave my bill.

I was appalled by the crassness and lack of empathy this shows. I want to point out the specific actions of … the financial counselor for [their] appalling behavior. Shame on you. This is not good patient care and needs to stop. Patients have rights.

— Mindy Brennan
Asheville

Editor’s note: Xpress contacted Mission Health with a summary of the letter writer’s points, but a spokeswoman did not provide a response.

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4 thoughts on “Letter: Bill left during heart procedure spikes blood pressure”

  1. Mike R.

    Perhaps Mission’s rationale is that it is better to have the heart attack or stroke while in the hospital.

    • NFB

      Sure. Then they can add more charges to their for profit, the share holders are our top priority, bill.

  2. Breeze

    I was in Mission in late March, had the same procedure. Every (doctors, nurses) were great
    Got back to my room, 5 minutes in received a call from billing . Told the lady I was still in the ICU she apologized and
    quickly said sorry , hung up
    This is HCA at its finest

  3. Bright

    I’d say the actual amount of the bill wasn’t what upped the b/p, but rather the crude insensitivity of the slob who sneakily put it there.

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