APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh said hospital bills must be itemised down to each individual line in accordance with the requirements under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.

“This is perhaps the only industry where such a high level of detail is provided, including, as an example, the number of gauzes used.

“As a result, the bill contains a lengthy list of items and pages, which is intended to be transparent to the patient and client,” he said in a statement.

Yesterday, CodeBlue reported that Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) CEO Mark O’Dell was baffled when he received a 13-page bill amounting to nearly RM19,000 for a minor hernia operation he did at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur in May.

He questioned how a simple procedure with a one-night hospital stay could result in a 13-page bill, filled with numerous line items. He added that his insurer did not pay for his suite room.

Kuljit, in response, pointed out that the practice of providing lengthy bills has been in existence for many years and all private hospitals are required to provide detailed explanations of the bills upon request from the patient or payor.

“Given the absence of a universally accepted method for pricing equipment and services, it is crucial to examine the overall bill to ensure its fairness and adherence to established norms.

“Focussing solely on specific items and making comparisons may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the billing structure,” he added.

He also said the overnight stay in the suite room by O’Dell was optional, since it was not customary or clinically necessary and not covered by insurance unless stated otherwise in the policy.

“However, it is undeniable that the inclusion of additional luxurious amenities has significantly increased the overall expense of the bill,” he said.

Kuljit said these bills are frequently scrutinised with specific attention to the hospital portion, without taking into account the expenses borne by the hospital.