Hospital or Clinic Itemized Bill

There are lots of patients who are seeking healthcare from private institution do not realize their rights as a patient. One of the it is the request for itemized billing.

Imagine this, if we go to a hypermarket to do our groceries shopping. At the check out counter we put 20 items to be checked out. The cashier asked you to pay a sum of RM1000 for the 20 items. What will be our first question to the cashier? Personally it will be these two questions

1. Why so expensive?
2. Can I know which of the 20 items is expensive?

In the above scene, I am basically asking for the itemized bill so that I can check which of the items that I wanted to buy was expensive. It is a pretty normal response.

The question is, 'Why we don't do the same when we seek healthcare from doctors in hospitals or clinics?'

Allow me to put down few facts:

1. The patient can, at any time, asking for their itemized bill when their admitted to the hospital. This is clearly stated in the Regulations and the hospital or clinics cannot run away from it

2. The patient can ask for estimated cost of their treatment before a treatment is started. This is to allow patients to know the price before 'buying the product'.

3. The price of treatment must be the SAME if you are paying cash or under an insurance coverage. I know for a fact that lots of private medical centres out there are asking for higher price if a patient is covered by insurance. Almost all of these patients do not even ask 'why' is it more? There is no reason for more.

Know your rights as a patient!