Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether MedStar Health improperly charged undisclosed outpatient facility fees at MedStar PromptCare urgent care centers and MedStar-owned outpatient clinics throughout the District of Columbia.
Many patients choose urgent care because they expect pricing similar to an ordinary doctor’s office visit. However, some MedStar patients report receiving a separate hospital outpatient facility fee—sometimes adding hundreds of dollars to the total cost of care—that was never disclosed before the appointment.
Consumers report discovering these charges only after receiving their insurance explanation of benefits or final bill, when it is too late to choose another provider.
What Consumers Report
Consumers report:
- Receiving unexpected hospital outpatient facility fees after urgent care visits.
- Being charged both a physician fee and a separate facility fee.
- No disclosure of the additional charge during online scheduling or check-in.
- Routine illnesses resulting in unexpectedly expensive medical bills.
- Learning about the fee only after insurance processed the claim.
- Paying significantly more than anticipated for walk-in medical care.
Why Consumers Should Be Concerned
Urgent care centers often market themselves as convenient, affordable alternatives to emergency rooms. Patients reasonably expect to know the full cost of treatment before receiving care. Hidden facility fees may prevent consumers from making informed decisions and comparing prices among competing providers.
This investigation seeks to determine whether MedStar Health adequately disclosed mandatory facility fees before patients committed to receiving treatment.
Potential Claims May Include
- Violation of the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act
- Material Omissions
- False or Misleading Price Advertising
- Deceptive Trade Practices
- Unjust Enrichment
Signs You May Be Affected
You may be affected if:
- You visited a MedStar PromptCare or MedStar outpatient clinic in Washington, D.C.
- Your visit occurred within the past three years.
- Your bill included a separate outpatient facility fee.
- You were never informed about that fee before treatment.
- You paid any portion of the additional charge.
- You still have your bill or insurance explanation of benefits.
If you have encountered these issues, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (202) 470-3520.