Greg Cassella, a student volunteer at Albany (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital, accidentally pricked himself with a needle while cleaning a room in the emergency department in 2015. A few weeks later, he was slammed with a $1,747 medical bill for a lab test that was required by the hospital's protocol, reports WABC.
Mr. Cassella, who is studying to be a physician assistant, was cleaning a room when he felt the needle puncture his hand. He immediately alerted a nurse, who sent him for a routine test. Hospital protocol is to get a precautionary lab test. A few weeks later, he received a bill totaling $1,747 for the test.
"Everyone told me I was covered by worker's comp. It was just the procedure that everyone has to do when they get pricked," Mr. Cassella told WABC.
According to Mr. Cassella, when he went to argue worker's compensation should cover the lab test, he was informed he did not receive worker's comp because he was not a paid employee. Mr. Cassella then put the claim through his own insurance and it was denied.
For more than a year, nothing happened. Then, recently, Mr. Cassella received a threatening collection notice.
WABC contacted Albany Memorial Hospital and asked them to resurrect Mr. Cassella's claim. The medical bill finally shows a zero balance, according to the report.
A hospital representative told WABC this billing matter was cleared weeks before the news station contacted them, but Mr. Cassella had no idea because he never received word from the hospital or collection agency until after the WABC crew got involved.
"I was so relieved. I can't believe you could do it in four days what I couldn't do for two years," said Mr. Cassella.