Opinion ID: 553881
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: testimony regarding hospital charges

Text: 24 Appellant also challenges the district court's refusal to allow Dr. Myers to testify to the reasonableness of appellant's hospital bills. Because the same issue may arise on remand, we will briefly discuss the merits of appellant's argument. 25 Appellant sought to introduce into evidence four exhibits reflecting the charges he incurred at St. Luke's Hospital. Wal-Mart objected on the grounds that appellant had not laid the proper foundation for their admission through testimony as to the reasonableness of the charges. The district court refused to allow Dr. Myers to testify to the reasonableness of the hospital bills because he was not responsible for the hospital's billing. Even though appellant indicated he only wanted Dr. Myers to establish that part of the bill pertained to appellant's hemorrhoid problem and not to his lower back pain, the district court continued to sustain the objection. 26 We believe that Dr. Myers was qualified to testify to the reasonableness of the hospital charge, part of which appellant claims included Dr. Myers' services to appellant. See Annotation, Necessity and Sufficiency as to Reasonableness of Amount Charged, or Paid for Accrued Medical, Nursing, or Hospital Expenses, 12 A.L.R.3d 1347, 1387 (1967 & Supp.1989). We also believe he was qualified to distinguish the expenses incurred as a result of appellant's back injuries from those expenses incurred as a result of appellant's hemorrhoid problem.