Abbreviations on a Hospital Bill Used in a Health Insurance Claim

Part 2, Chapter 5: Traditional Individual and Group Plans, Hospital Bills Page 3

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The abbreviation "Med-Surg-Semi-Prvt" in Table 12 refers to the cost of a semi-private room in the hospital's medical-surgical unit. The "6" in the "Comments" section refers to the time period, six days in this case. "Phrmcy" (pharmacy) refers to the cost of medications. "Med Supplies" includes the cost of such items as tape and bandages.

"Med Tests" includes expenses related to laboratory tests conducted during the time the patient was in the hospital. "CT" refers to a CAT scan (computerized axial tomography). "OR" refers to expenses related to the use of the operating room during surgery. "Blood" includes the cost of storing and processing blood that was used in a blood transfusion related to surgery.

"U-S" refers to the use of ultrasound equipment. In this case, the diagnostic tests were directly related to the surgery. "Recvry" refers to expenses related to the use of the recovery room immediately following surgery. "Tel" includes the cost of having a telephone near the patient's bed. Once again, the "6" in the "Comments" section refers to the fact that the telephone was in place for six days. Expenses related to telephone use are not generally covered by health insurance policies.

If the insurer requests an itemized bill, a bill such as the one presented in Table 12 would probably be between ten and thirty pages in length. It would include details related to specific medications, medical or surgical supplies, laboratory tests, blood transfusions, and other procedures. Many hospitals use different abbreviations, If a particular item listed on a hospital bill is unclear, ask the hospital billing office for an explanation.

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