Heartless hospitals *trigger warning~suicide*

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Many of you know that my step-daughter committed suicide at age 30, back in August. She was six hours away from 'home' and so that added an additional $3k onto an already astronomical funeral expense. I would estimate the cost at around $15k and we haven't even purchased her headstone yet.

Fast forward to not even 30 days after we have her buried and the hospital she died in is sending US bills. My step-daughter was an organ donor, they kept her on certain drips for about 72 hours prior to removing organs. She saved 4 people's lives and made the hospital a ton of money. They are sending us bills for the radiology tests they did before taking out her organs, that's just one example. Apparently if you die an organ donor, you have to fund your kindness.

Prior to the bills coming in the mail, they began calling my husband at work. My husband is no dummy... When he showed up at the hospital (she was revived but essentially brain dead for the 4 days she was in ICU ) the admissions people started trying to get him to sign forms, he refused. Melissa was an adult, he knew what the hospital was up to. The lady on the phone tried to tell my husband he had signed a form, thinking since he was in so much grief, he might forget. He knew he hadn't. She then backtracked and said some lady, 'marjorie' signed it. We don't know anybody by that name.

Anyway, bills are now coming for the 'estate of ..... ......' There is no estate. She was an addict, on Medicaid.

We've explained the situation and still the bills are coming, Lord knows how much more they made on her organs than her medical bills add up to. I have stopped explaining, I'm now just writing, "return to sender, no such person, person deceased!"

I would take it to the press about that hospital's treatment of your family, especially since your step-daughter kindly donated her organs. That's atrocious and exceptionally bad of them to take advantage of your situation and bereavement. I would tell as many people as possible show up the hospital to look as bad as possible, because what they're doing is very bad and completely not on.

I'm speechless. That's beyond corrupt. I agree with smudge. I would put my formal objection in a letter to the hospital so that you can prove in writing that you appealed to them first. Then (next day) take it to the local newspaper (they're always looking for stories), the larger newspaper around you, the radio, etc. Go on the organ donor website itself if there is one which promotes the process. Then look for the hospital online because there is likely a place for Google reviews. Slam them. If the hospital has any type of fundraising campaign or social media presence, give them a hit too. If you know the names of any local or state officials / ombudsman people, call them directly. I would also appeal for "Marjorie" in your complaints. Ask Marjorie to step forward and pay the bill. Or, perhaps the organ recipient's family. Yes -- that's ludicrous but I say it in jest because it's just as ludicrous for you to pay.

This type of nonsense gets my blood boiling. I have half a mind to help you.

Yes. This is atrocious.

Yes. It’s very possible they can’t go after your “estate” if your stepdaughter was on Medicaid.

I am under the impression that you live in Florida. If so, BlazingStar’s advice would be applicable for you.

My ex wife lives in Florida and says Florida medicaid is really bad.

So sorry to hear about your loss & her death.

That hospital shouldn't treat people like this. Could they be sued or would that be a bad idea?

Many times, bills are sent “as a matter of course.”

I sense that if you can prove she was on Medicaid, they’ll stop the calls.

If they don’t, send a cease and desist letter.

Florida Medicaid is bad, but that doesn't change the law. Tell them she had Medicaid and the bills should stop. Hospitals may be able to bill the estate....I don't know about that. But since she has no estate, that point is moot.

Thank you all, you've given me some great advice.

I just don't get why they think they can get money out of the father. It wasn't like she was even a minor. She was in treatment for 4 mos, out for 6 weeks, relapsed an then committed suicide. It looks like she also had an ER visit about 20 days before, they are trying to bill for that. There is nothing to inherit, she was one paycheck away from poverty. But, she had used our address in the past, so I don't know.

Yes, we live in Florida.

Hospitals try to get the money out of whomever they can. And they will try to bill patients, relatives, anyone they think might pay the bill. I think some people might actually pay, even though they don't want have to. Many people don't know they don't have to pay. I not infrequently get calls regarding inappropriate billing.

Billing and treatment are two completely separate departments in health care. The billing people have no idea what went on, they just want to collect the money.

It is probably as Kortie said, the billing is just automatic and does not get turned off until someone calls them on it.

I am sorry you went through this. The whole process is tragic and getting billed for her services is like rubbing salt in a wound. ((Persephone))

My mother is on Medicare. She's gotten bills for $15,000 for one medical procedure which is covered by Medicare. That means the procedure is free.

Whenever somebody gets treated in the emergency room, that somebody gets an automatic bill. Sometimes, you have to subsequently prove insurance coverage; sometimes, you don't