United Healthcare Servs., Inc. v. First St. Hosp. LP

Historically, when a patient sought a medical evaluation, the patient could have expected to be billed a physician's fee in addition to the cost of any tests, treatments, and medicines provided during the medical visit. And when the medical evaluation was provided by a physician in a hospital's emergency room, the patient also could have expected to be billed a "facility fee." Facility fees have been described as premium add-ons meant to offset both the higher costs associated with maintaining, staffing, and stocking an emergency-ready facility 24 hours per day and the inherent financial…