jadesailor14 said:Are you asking them to just leave it blank, or should they just list the department if they absolutely insist on writing something?
It’s true they try to shake you down like that, but they aren't actually in the right.
My typical response is just, "Oh, really? Well, could you please show me—or at least tell me—exactly where that's written in the law? I'm talking about actual statutes, not some internal policy manual from the hospital."
Supposedly that rule regarding municipalities only applies to the ER, but even then, nobody ever sent me home, even when I showed up at the wrong hospital by mistake.
lol, why on earth would that apply to the ER🤣? It's not like you get to choose where an emergency happens—whether it's at your grandma's house, on vacation at the beach, or out hiking in the mountains.
For what it's worth, my dentist is in my hometown, but my OB-GYN and my primary care doctor are several hundred miles away in different counties altogether. I've been to five or six different ERs over the years, and I have never once noticed anyone giving a damn about which county I officially reside in.
You can pretty much seek care wherever you want; the only thing is, they'll only cover travel expenses if you truly have absolutely nothing available nearby.
At the end of the day, think about how many people travel from huge cities like New York or Chicago to smaller towns specifically for specialized exams, screenings, or surgeries just to avoid the massive crowds.