Alright, this is absolutely first world problems, but holy mother of healthcare, am I furious.

So, I saw a doctor in the #Baylor system (who have purchased most medical practices in the area), a few weeks ago. I paid the doctor at the time of the visit. ($165 after insurance). I knew there was a facility fee, but refused to pay it, because it's egregious.

I got an email this morning from Baylor saying I owed another $300 for facility fees. (I was waiting for the bill, so I could talk to someone about it.)

So I called and said "Hey, this charge is unreasonable, and well outside usual and customary fees."

And their response, as Bob is my witless was, "Our fees are defensible." Which means they had lawyers sitting up figuring out to the last penny what they think they can get away with.

Those lawyers never met me.

#medicalDebt #USHeathcare #profiteering

@MissConstrue just wondering: aren't there no laws against usury in the USA?

@GRA3432 There are, but they generally only apply to loans, and set statutory caps on interest rates.

https://www.thebasilelawfirm.com/post/the-application-of-texas-usury-law-insights-from-a-recent-supreme-court-ruling

The Application of Texas Usury Law: Insights from a Recent Supreme Court Ruling

Texas usury laws are designed to protect borrowers from excessive interest charges on loans, capping the maximum allowable rates to prevent predatory lending practices. Under the Texas Finance Code, "interest" is broadly defined as any compensation for the use, forbearance, or detention of money, and usurious interest exceeds the statutory limits—typically 10% per annum unless otherwise specified, with higher caps for commercial loans up to 28% in certain cases.

The Basile Law Firm
@MissConstrue I see. But for me this looks like a form of usury - exploiting the sick.
@GRA3432 It's certainly immoral and unethical and should be outlawed.