From: Tim Thornton 
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 1995 15:25:55 -0500 (CDT)

[From the September/October issue of Rising Tide, page 30]

Rep. Joe Knollenberg of Michigan tells how a Michigan woman named Jean English discovered a bill from her deceased brother's hospital stay of four days. The bill came to $368,511.09.

After calling the hospital, Mrs. English received a 14-page itemized statement that included a $347,982.01 bill for supplies used during his seven-hour stay in the emergency room. The hospital later admitted it had overcharged, conceding the supplies cost only $61.30.

"End of story?" asks Knollenberg, "Hardly. The errant bill had been sent to Medicare and paid by Medicare. That is right -- they paid the bill."