Patients are being hit with this surprise fee just for seeing their doc

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.

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