Hospital Services and Fees: FSA Eligibility

What are hospital services and fees?

Hospital services and fees are also known as hospital charges. They typically encompass the services that hospitals provide to their patients outside of normal expenses related to the care of a physician or nurse, medicines, etc. Hospital services and fees include things like room and board, medical tests, use of facilities in emergency departments or the operating room, delivery room, or physical therapy (LIVESTRONG).

Hospital services and fees are separate from the charges that would come from a physician or medical professional for their direct services. Hospital services and fees are eligible for reimbursement with a consumer-directed healthcare account. Hospital services and fees vary by hospital, and may be billed different to an individual or an insurance company. Hospital services and fees are commonly listed online or can be accessed ahead of time.

Other charges that wouldn't be included with hospital services and fees are things like drugs for a medical procedure such as anesthesia. Laboratory screenings, tests, etc. are charged similarly. There are often different categories of fees within a hospital service and fee, such as when using an emergency room. In that example, there might be several categories depending on the severity of the medical condition or injury and therefore the level of care required. The hospital service and fee would increase with the category of treatment required.

Hospital services and fees are charged in order to support the overhead costs of maintaining a hospital. An example of why this fee exists is for 24/7 emergency room support. Hospital services and fees allow the emergency room to stay open at all times, whereas other physicians' offices are likely to close at night, and would not be available to provide the same sort of responsive emergency care.