Hospital bill shocksThis letter is in regard to the service I received at St Petersburg General Hospital on July 2. On that date I received a tetanus shot and a prescription for antibiotics as treatment for a minor puncture caused by a thorn bush. The doctor spent a couple of minutes with me and then sent me over to billing to gather my information. While giving my billing information I asked repeatedly what this visit would cost. No one could answer this simple question. I saw a doctor for a couple of minutes, got a shot and a prescription. Surely someone at St. Petersburg General Hospital knows what the charges should be for such a common service. Not during my visit. Imagine my shock, and disgust, when later I discovered that the bill for my visit exceeded $1,200. Yes, more than $1,200 for a brief visit, a shot and a prescription. This is unbelievably excessive. The hospital and doctor (he charged $485) should be ashamed. It is no wonder that our country finds itself in a “health care crisis.” I can only hope that in the future I don’t fall ill and end up at St. Petersburg General Hospital. - Bobby Bailey
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