Hospitals Implement Prepayment Requirements, Increasing Patient Financial Responsibility
Hospitals and medical providers are increasingly requiring prepayments from patients for services, a shift from the traditional model where patients received bills for their share after treatment. This trend is exemplified by cases like Thomas Zordani, who was asked for a pre-service deposit by Mayo Clinic for a neurosurgeon consultation. Andrea Kalmanovitz, Mayo's communications director, stated that such requests can arise when prospective patients are unclear about whether Mayo Clinic is in-network with their health plan. This practice is becoming more common as healthcare providers aim to secure payments upfront, especially given the challenges patients face in meeting high deductibles. Richard Gundling, a senior vice president at the Healthcare Financial Management Association, noted that individuals are essentially being asked to self-insure. 
