A California-based hospital recently submitted a bill of $100,618 for a one-night stay, all centered around a treatment for a fractured vertebra. The most shocking part? Over half of the total bill, $58,493, was for a single charge: trauma activation.
Trauma activation is a service where specialists and emergency doctors are rapidly mobilized to respond to severe cases, ensuring immediate readiness for critical care. Additional reimbursement for trauma activation is often justified due to the resource-intensive nature of providing these services, even if advanced interventions are not ultimately required. In this instance, the patient suffered a fracture of the first lumbar vertebra, but no surgery was needed. The injury was managed through closed treatment, meaning the doctor stabilized the fracture without making any surgical incisions. While trauma activation plays a vital role in emergency care, the facility billed an amount far exceeding industry norms—a category typically billed at a flat rate of around $5,200.
With experience in medical costs and billing practices, our team at WellRithms saw this bill for what it was: unjustifiably high. Using our proprietary algorithms and the expertise of our medical professionals, we reassessed the true cost of care. Our review resulted in a repriced total of $17,094— saving our client $83,524 from the original six-figure bill.
The repriced total reflects not only fair and accurate costs but also defensible outcomes aligned with industry standards, ensuring that both the patient and the payor are not subjected to unjustified, excessive charges. In this case, our review found that 58% of the billed charges stemmed from the overly inflated trauma activation fee alone.
At WellRithms, our mission is to Level the Paying Field™ by ensuring billed charges align with the true cost of care. Through advanced technology, physician-led reviews, and a commitment to fairness, we protect employers, payors, and patients from unjustified overcharges—one bill at a time.
For more information on how WellRithms can help you reduce inflated healthcare costs, contact us at info@wellrithms.com.
