Neonatologist

[charissev]

I am starting to receive bills from the hospital for my baby’s birth and associated appointments while in L&D. My baby was born vaginally at 38 weeks with no other complications.

I have received claims for 3 neonatologist visits while in the hospital for 36 hours post labor. Each visit is between $1000- $3,000 before insurance. Is this normal? Did anyone else experience this level of pediatric specialization at their child’s unremarkable birth?

 

[prayerwarriorjd]

@charissev That does seem unusual. Could your hospital have only neonatologists doing the general pediatrics visits when the babies are first born?

 

[charissev]

@prayerwarriorjd This may be the case, but if so, why 3 visits?

 

[prayerwarriorjd]

@charissev Our baby was seen twice during admission, once each day. Were there 3 pediatric assessments?

 

[waxwing85]

@charissev Ask for an itemized bill and if it’s still on there ask them to take it off as your LO wasn’t seen by them.

 

[laszlart]

@charissev Did your baby have any jaundice? Mine had a positive Coombs test, so she was seen by a neonatologist our whole stay (but never had to go to the NICU).

 

[charissev]

@laszlart No she was never jaundice

 

[brianjk]

@charissev At my hospital all of the checks on baby were done by neonatologists, like that’s who was on staff for rounds rather than general pediatricians. Might have been the case at yours as well.

 

[newbie284]

@brianjk That was the case for me, as well. We saw the neonatologist… twice? Maybe three times?