HOSPITAL LURE DIABETES PATIENTS WITH SELF-CARE COURSES, BUT COSTS CAN WEIGH HEAVILY

Washington Post - When a routine physical revealed mildly elevated blood-sugar levels, Michael Phillips was strongly encouraged to sign up for a diabetes self-management class.

Phillips never asked about the cost of the two half-day sessions he attended in a conference room at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, Ga., and doesn’t recall the instructor mentioning it. 

But the 64-year-old retired bank analyst was flabbergasted when he opened his bill after attending. “What, $1,044 for a class?” said Phillips, who fought the bill with the hospital and his insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. “The hospital is charging an exorbitant rate, but BCBS is going along with it — why aren’t they screaming about being gouged?”...>>>