AMNews: Aug. 10, 2009. Facility fees added to patient bills have some crying foul ... American Medical News

By Victoria Stagg Elliott, AMNews staff. The news that the Cleveland Clinic started billing patients facility fees for visiting physicians at some outpatient offices as of March 1 stirred up shock waves. At a time when health care costs are increasing and many families are under economic strain, this practice may increase out-of-pocket costs that patients see only when they get the bill. "This is like a barber charging you to sit in his chair when he cuts your hair," said Chuck Benedict, MD, a retired neurologist and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. "And it's very much a transparency issue." He has proposed legislation on this subject in his state. Read More