Wednesday, April 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
Former patients at 12 hospitals throughout the state got their bills reduced more than $60,000 following investigations by the Department of Business and Industry's Office for Hospital Patients.
Most of the 39 complaints that were settled from Jan. 1-March 31 and 65 from the previous quarter were due to hospitals not giving uninsured patients a mandatory 30 percent discount, administrator Milly Gonzalez-Johnson said. Some hospitals also reduced bills depending on a patient's indigent status.
"These figures ($60,827.83) do not reflect the quality of care at hospitals," investigator Bill Arager said. "They represent the patient who has come to our office and made a complaint."
Johnson said Nevada is the only state that has a specific agency that helps patients settle billing questions. The office works with hospitals and patients and helps set up payment programs for those who don't have insurance. No money exchanges hands, Johnson said. Bills are reduced when a patient's complaint is justified.
Arager said his office doesn't independently investigate hospitals. Patients have to come in and file complaints. The agency only intervenes in hospital billings and not those involving doctors or pharmacies.
"Sometimes it takes from six months to a year to close a case," Johnson said. "We give hospitals 30 days to respond back in writing. We are a role model, and would like to see this in other states."
Arager said the Office for Hospital Patients was established by Gov. Bob Miller at no cost to the taxpayers. It is funded by hospitals throughout the state.
"We access 24 hospitals around the state," Johnson said. "We are very high here with regards to health care."
The Office for Hospital Patients, 1850 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 101, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Complaint forms will be mailed out upon request, or can be filled out in person.
For information call 486-8255.
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