LRGH Billing

[songkrai]

I had to be admitted to a hospital for a somewhat common issue - 30 years ago. Started in Emergency Room then admitted. That hospital was a not for profit or non-profit hospital.
I received two bills.
One from doctor.
One from hospital.

Recently, I had to be admitted to a hospital for same issue.
Everything just about the same.

This last time I received 17 bills.
Many of the hospitals are now private for profit corporations.
Each and every entity inside the hospital is now owned by a for profit company.
Emergency Room - one company.
Lab in Emergency Room - another company.
X-Ray in Emergency Room - another company.
Pharmacy in Emergency Room - another company.
Once admitted - Exact same lab work - another private company.
Food service another company.
Sheets/laurdry another company.
Doctors in hospital another company.
Specialists in hospital another company.
X-Rays another company.
Pharmacy another company.
And many others.
Even the hospital billing was contracted out.
I received a bill for the billing.

I later went back to obtain a copy of the bill. The billing company seemed amazed that someone would actually ask for a copy of the bill.
10 point font about 9 pages.
Fifty cents per page.