Hospitals have gotten some bad press lately, and health insurers have been getting a bad rap for about as long as I can remember. But some hospitals and health plans in Massachusetts defied those greedy reputations by saying they would withhold at least some medical bills for victims of the Boston Marathon bombing.
The Boston Globe reported on Wednesday that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts would evaluate victims’ bills on a case-by-case basis. Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan, meanwhile, said it would waive out-of-pocket medical costs for those hurt during the bombing. More than 280 people were treated at area hospitals, including at least 15 who had limbs amputated. Tufts Health Plan said it would waive not only those bills but also costs for mental health care resulting from last week’s incidents.
Massachusetts General Hospital CFO Sally Mason Boemer told the Globe that the hospital would hold back on sending those patients bills for services, hoping to cover the cost of their care through donations or assistance funds. Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Tufts Medical Center appear to have similar plans, the Globe reported.
When Investment Rhymes with Canada
Canada has a proud history of achievement in the areas of science and technology, and the field of biomanufacturing and life sciences is no exception.
Medical device companies appear to be doing their part, too, reportedly offering to donate prosthetic limbs or give steep discounts for those who lost limbs.
Separately, various crowdfunding campaigns have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the victims’ medical bills, and One Fund Boston has raised more than $23 million.
[Photo by Flickr user Eva Maria]
