Patients are being hit with this surprise fee just for seeing their doc
Updated on: January 30, 2026 / 4:17 PM EST / CBS News
TL;DR
- Hospital-owned doctors' offices are charging patients "facility fees" unrelated to medical treatment.
- These fees can range from $25 to thousands of dollars and appear on bills for routine services like physical exams and telehealth.
- Facility fees are intended to help hospitals cover high overhead costs, but are now being applied in outpatient settings where independent clinics were acquired by hospitals.
- U.S. PIRG reports that these fees increase medical costs and deter some patients from seeking care.
- About 50% of community practices are now hospital-owned, making these fees unavoidable for many consumers.
- Only a few states require hospitals to notify patients in advance about facility fees, leading to surprise charges.
- One patient, Beth Davis, was charged a $2,418 facility fee for a cortisone shot, totaling $2,667.45 on her bill.
- Consumer advocacy groups are calling for stronger regulations, including requiring hospitals to report collected fees and for more states to protect consumers from these charges.
- A recent poll indicates that two-thirds of Americans are worried about affording healthcare, with one-third specifically concerned about medical expenses.