Facility fees are extra charges that hospitals add when you receive care. They are separate from the cost of the visit itself and are billed on top of the care received. These fees are common in hospital-owned clinics and can result in two bills: one for the provider and one for the facility.
Key Takeaways
- Separate charge from the cost of care
- Common in hospital-owned facilities
- Can result in multiple bills
- Increase total healthcare costs
How do facility fees work?
When you receive care at a hospital or hospital-owned clinic, the hospital may charge a facility fee in addition to the provider’s bill. Facility fees were meant to cover the costs of operating Emergency Rooms and hospitals, but they are now billed for routine care at hospital-owned facilities.
How do facility fees affect you?
Facility fees can increase out-of-pocket costs and premiums. They are one reason healthcare costs can vary depending on where care is delivered and how services are billed.
Higher healthcare costs don’t just show up in medical bills and premiums. They can also affect wages and benefits over time, as more money is spent on healthcare instead of take-home pay. See the report on healthcare costs and wages.
What this means in North Carolina
In North Carolina, facility fees are part of ongoing discussions around healthcare costs. Policymakers and advocates are evaluating how these fees impact patients and whether changes are needed to improve affordability and clarity in billing.
Recent discussions at the General Assembly have brought increased attention to how these fees are used and how they affect patients.
