Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether George Washington University Hospital and GW Medical Faculty Associates failed to adequately disclose outpatient facility fees charged in connection with physician office visits and outpatient medical services.
Patients often seek care expecting ordinary physician office pricing but later discover an additional hospital outpatient facility fee added to the cost of treatment. These charges may substantially increase the total cost of routine appointments without being clearly disclosed before scheduling or registration.
Consumers who are unaware of these additional fees lose the opportunity to compare healthcare costs and choose lower-priced alternatives.
What Consumers Report
Consumers report:
- Receiving unexpected hospital outpatient facility fees.
- Being billed separately by both the physician and the hospital.
- Learning about the additional charge only after insurance processed the claim.
- No meaningful disclosure before scheduling or check-in.
- Routine outpatient visits costing substantially more than anticipated.
- Difficulty understanding why multiple charges applied to a single appointment.
Why Consumers Should Be Concerned
Healthcare consumers deserve accurate pricing information before committing to treatment. When mandatory hospital facility fees are not adequately disclosed beforehand, patients may unknowingly incur significant additional costs and lose the ability to make informed purchasing decisions.
This investigation seeks to determine whether George Washington University Hospital and GW Medical Faculty Associates sufficiently disclosed facility fees before treatment and whether those practices violated District of Columbia consumer protection laws.
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 received outpatient care through George Washington University Hospital or GW Medical Faculty Associates.
- Your visit occurred within the past three years.
- Your bill included a separate hospital facility fee.
- You were not informed about that charge before your appointment.
- You paid any portion of the additional fee.
- You still have your billing records 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.