Sov Valentine of Plains, Mont., ran up an out-of-network bill for lifesaving kidney dialysis that topped half a million dollars in just 14 weeks. Kaiser Health News Editor-in-Chief Elisabeth Rosenthal discussed the latest NPR-KHN “Bill of the Month” installment on “CBS This Morning” on Thursday.
Rosenthal said the case exemplifies what happens when an insurer and a provider disagree, and the patient gets stuck with an outrageous bill. “It’s hostage-taking of poor Sov Valentine,” she said.