A month ago I was suffering from severe pain that started in my back and radiated to my lower abdomen. It was so severe I went to our local ER. By the time I got there (1/2hour drive), and waited to be seen by the ER doctor (ER was busy), the pain had mostly subsided. I explained the symptoms. I was asked to describe the pain on a level of 1 to 10. I said the pain had subsided, but I would have rated it as a 10 at the time I called to say I was coming in. The ER doctor ordered a blood test, they took my blood pressure and temperature, and he decided I was having a flare from ulcerative colitis (a condition I have, which has been pretty much under control for a few years). I explained to him that the symptoms were not the same as when I have had flares in the past (they come on slowly, not in one day). I explained to him that I have never had that type nor that severe pain in the past. He ignored me, prescribed a high dose of prednisone for six days, and offered me valium (which I did not accept). I decided to go home, try to make it through the weekend (this was late Friday night), and try to contact my GI specialist on Monday and ask what they thought. The next day the pain came back again, just as bad and for a longer period. In the end, I made two more ER visits (different ER), and it turned out I had a large kidney stone that was lodged. When I went in again, I was very dehydrated, low blood pressure, very low potassium, vomiting, etc.

Now, the bills are starting to come. My first ER bill, from the hospital that misdiagnosed me, didn't listen to me, and sent me home... is the highest. It is MUCH higher than the second ER visit. In the second ER visit, I was there several hours, had x-rays, a CT scan, morphine, constant monitoring, blood work, nurses attending me, and several visits from the ER doctor. I don't have the third ER visit bills yet to compare, there I was actually admitted for observation for two days, so I expect they will be higher.

My question is... I think the first ER bill is outrageous, plus I was misdiagnosed, and feel I was dismissed by the doctor. Do I have a right to dispute this bill? If yes, what would be the process for doing so?

If you don't pay they will take you to Small Claims Court. Pay under protest and then sue THEM in Small Claims Court. Keep in mind that the hospital has costs when someone is in the ER and those are passed along.

Firstly, the ER does not necessarily diagnose (for the most part, but treats emergent patients). Switching from hospital to hospital makes it appear as drug/attention seeking behavior (just thought you might like to know that for future reference).

My first thought was kidney stones as well, however, since the pain had subsided prior to being seen, the doctor has to take past medical into account when "diagnosing" in the ER.

Now, every hospital has different charges, somewhat even though they all have to go through what is called a DRG.

If the first hospital you went to was a private hospital, well their charges are going to be higher.

From what it sounds like, your level of pain as well as the description, was not enough to warrant an ultrasound of the kidneys. So, then the doctor has to treat according to presenting symptoms.