The most common mistakes in billing are charging for more days than a patient actually stayed. Now there are other reasons why hospital bills are high. Its not billing errors but something you should discuss to help lower your hospital costs. Some hospitals itemize procedures instead of billing for an entire procedure. Added up, the individual charges total more than a single bill.
Some hospitals charge extra for a TV set in the room.
And if you want another pillow, those extra pillows could get tacked onto your bill. Some insurance companies won't cover those extra costs. You might be better off asking mom to bring a pillow, radio or magazines from home. Tomorrow, on Common Cents, we'll tell you what to look for in an itemized bill and make sure you're billed correctly.