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I'm launching a new project today that will investigate the costs of coronavirus testing and treatment using readers' medical bills.
A thread explaining why I'm doing my reporting this way, and how you can help the @nytimes tell this story. (1/7) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/reader-center/coronavirus-medical-bills.html
A thread explaining why I'm doing my reporting this way, and how you can help the @nytimes tell this story. (1/7) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/reader-center/coronavirus-medical-bills.html
There are two big things to know about health care prices in the United States:
1. They are very high
2. They are very secret
Patients don't know what their care costs until a bill turns up. (2/7)
1. They are very high
2. They are very secret
Patients don't know what their care costs until a bill turns up. (2/7)
Powerful lobbies want to keep things this way. The hospital lobby, for example, recently sued the federal government to keep their prices secret (3/7) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/upshot/hospitals-lost-price-transparency-lawsuit.html
Sometimes, insurers and doctors do give reporters like me a small peek at their prices. But that's an exception, not the rule.
In a decade writing on the health care system, I've found the best way to get that information is going directly to patients (4/7)
In a decade writing on the health care system, I've found the best way to get that information is going directly to patients (4/7)
About a month ago, I learned that the price of a coronavirus test ranged from $199 and $6,408 — inside *the exact same emergency room.*
I only learned that because multiple patients from that ER sent me their bills. (5/7) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/upshot/coronavirus-tests-unpredictable-prices.html
I only learned that because multiple patients from that ER sent me their bills. (5/7) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/upshot/coronavirus-tests-unpredictable-prices.html
Patient bills are such a powerful reporting tool.
@KHNews has done amazing, amazing reporting with their bill of the month project.
I'm personally proud of the work I did in this space with ER bills for @voxdotcom, too. (6/7) https://www.vox.com/2018/2/27/16936638/er-bills-emergency-room-hospital-fees-health-care-costs
@KHNews has done amazing, amazing reporting with their bill of the month project.
I'm personally proud of the work I did in this space with ER bills for @voxdotcom, too. (6/7) https://www.vox.com/2018/2/27/16936638/er-bills-emergency-room-hospital-fees-health-care-costs
Now I'm turning my attention to coronavirus, and I need your help.
If you've gotten any sort of medical bill or explanation of benefits related to coronavirus (testing, treatment, other medical care you changed in some way related to the pandemic) send them to me!
(6/7)
If you've gotten any sort of medical bill or explanation of benefits related to coronavirus (testing, treatment, other medical care you changed in some way related to the pandemic) send them to me!
(6/7)
They can be big bills, small bills — the more confusing, the better. Reading confusing medical bills, and decoding them, is one of my favorite past times! 
I'll be reporting on the set of bills we collect for the rest of the year at least. (7/7) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/reader-center/coronavirus-medical-bills.html
I'll be reporting on the set of bills we collect for the rest of the year at least. (7/7) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/03/reader-center/coronavirus-medical-bills.html
Send me bills that are big, send me bills that are small, send me bills that you don't really understand — I want to help understand them!
