Monday, December 20, 2010

Can an individual with cancer be refused treatment until back invoices are paid

Can an individual with cancer be refused treatment until back invoices are paid?
A woman in my community has allegedly been refused continued treatment for her cancer until past invoices totaling $4,000 are paid. Is this legal? Is this common practice?
Cancer - 5 Answers



Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
You may not be getting the entire story. If her cancer is not life-threatening, then I believe yes. I would investigate further to find out the reasons.
2 :
is it possible anywhere? yep sure depending on if she was being treated at a private facility, what the specific laws are in your state, etc. To many variables to mention.
3 :
That's horrible! What a despicable society we live in today. I do know, in my state anyway, that there are hospitals which will not refuse anyone. You'll still be stuck with a hefty bill at the end, but they can't ever deny you or put you out when you are still in need of treatment. and, I know there are a lot of places who will do this. A few years back a boy in my state died when he was refused admittance to a hospital because he didn't have insurance after being bitten by a poisonous snake. He died.
4 :
No it not legal, she can file a suit against the hospital or the doctor, if they refuse her they have to send her to another doctor even the county hospital, people are deathly ill and have no room in increasingly short lives to focus on money.They should let her set up a bill payment, or get money from public aid but no they are not supposed to refuse her treatment.
5 :
As a healthcare provider I can tell you that it's absolutely legal to refuse treatment or services to people because they owe money.....or refuse care to people who do not pay upfront for services if they do not have insurance. In this country people have the mistaken idea that health care is a right. It's not. It's a privilege. Not that I agree with that.....I'm just telling you the reality of it all. It is possible to get Medicaid to pay for health care once you have very limited income and almost no assets. But they can also decide what they will pay for (as does insurance companies). A healthcare provider recommending it or ordering it has no bearing on whether they pay or not. And if they don't pay......no treatment. Some hospitals have charity care....but not all of them and they decide who and what they will give it too. This country does not have socialized medicine. People just don't realize what the situation is with our healthcare system.



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