Recently, USA TODAY investigated billing codes and determined Martin Memorial, our local hospital, has higher than average birth complication rates. This is no surprise to me, as I have investigated numerous problems with this facility, including the maternity ward. The way reporters had to access the information about the hospital’s problems was from billing code information. The hospital refused to answer questions or supply data about the numbers of complications at their facility.
Now I predict Martin Memorial will change their billing codes instead of improving delivery for mothers and babies so they never get caught again. The moral of this story, is choose a different place to have your baby! Transparency should be required by hospitals so consumers can decide where to go for treatment. If they are hiding information, that usually that means they have something to hide.
