UIHC task force leaves cause of higher Mission Cancer bills untouched
A small task force the Iowa Board of Regents assembled to review issues with patient billing after University of Iowa Health Care purchased the state's largest cancer treatment clinic says more could be done to help patients understand billing and access financial support. The task force, however, was not assigned to do anything about the biggest factor that has made former Mission Cancer & Blood patients' bills higher under UIHC. Dr. Denise Jamieson, UIHC vice president for medical affairs , told the regents at their Wednesday, Nov. 11, meeting in Ames the group examined communications with patients and billing and financial counseling. Jamieson said it determined UIHC could inform patients earlier about what they may owe, connect them with financial assistance and work with insurers, employers and others that play a role in out-of-pocket medical costs. UIHC also could "measure whether the changes are affecting the patient experience," she said. "We want patients to focus on their treatment," she said. But the task force did not address the reason for the higher bills. In a series of investigative reports this year, the Des Moines Register Watchdog found the elevated bills showed up after the nonprofit hospital group started charging hospital
