PITTSBURGH -- A group claims it's found mistakes on 80 percent of the medical bills they've inspected -- errors that could end up costing patients thousands of dollars.

"I opened it and I saw where I had gotten a kidney transplant. Well, unfortunately, after inspecting my body, I did not have a kidney transplant," said WTAE's "Call 4 Action" director Richard Bender.

According to the Medical Billing Advocates of America, eight out of every 10 bills they inspect have some kind of mistake -- mistakes they said increase the overall charges by 17 to 49 percent.

"Something as simple as mistyping a code for a procedure could get you in trouble," said Ted Zimmer of the Consumer Health Coalition.

Other common hospital billing mistakes include double-billing for the same tests, charging for extra days and inflated room charges for items such as towels, linens and gowns.

While insurance companies help to pick up the tab, many policies have caps on how much money they'll spend on someone, making the impact of billing errors even bigger.

"But people really need to start looking a little bit more deep and asking questions and being a more engaged patient," said Zimmer.

Patients are encouraged to ask hospitals for an itemized bill. Insurance companies can help explain the charges. The state department of insurance can also lend assistance.

"When it comes down to who pays the bill, you want to make sure you get what you pay for," said Bender.

Related Links:

Medical Billing Advocates Of America

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