Medical billing is messy on a good day. The goal here is simple: pay the least you legally owe , avoid collections , and force the system to correct errors —using repeatable steps, not vibes. (Educational information, not legal advice.) What to do in the next 60 minutes Stop the panic-payment.  Don’t put a surprise bill on a credit card today unless care will be denied tomorrow. You want leverage first. Confirm what the bill actually is.  Find: provider name, date(s) of servi