There are many variables when it comes to pursuing hospital complaints. Therefore, you should select the approach that you believe best fits your particular situation.           I. Start directly with the hospital     a.   Step 1. Step 1. Speak to a billing and collections staff person, or the Supervisor of billing and collections, or the hospital employee who handles over-all hospital complaints (often called a "patient representative"). Request a prompt investigation of your complaint, and a prompt response back as to findings and action taken.               b.   Step 2. If you get no prompt resolution from Step 1, consider speaking to the office of the hospital's "chief financial officer". Request a prompt investigation of your complaint, and a prompt response back as to findings and action taken.               c.   Step 3. If you get no prompt resolution from either Step 1 or Step 2, consider speaking to the office of the hospital's "president and chief executive officer". Explain your complaint and frustration with the lack of resolution with Steps 1 and 2, and request a prompt investigation of your complaint, and a prompt response back as to findings and action taken.                 II. If you get no resolution by filing your billing complaint directly with the hospital, then you should consider filing your complaint with one or more of the following organizations.     a.   State Agencies - Every state has a state agency that handles hospital complaints. We have listed for your information the telephone numbers for every state agency in the United States that handles hospital complaints (see "State Agencies - Telephone Numbers").               b.   Corporate Headquarters - Over 50% of local hospitals in the United States are owned or managed by a larger hospital corporation, often known as a "hospital system". Most patients are unaware of this relationship. You are entitled to know if your hospital is owned or managed by a hospital system, and if so, the name and address of the corporate headquarters. You may wish to consider contacting the corporate headquarters - explain your frustration with the lack of responsiveness at the local level, and request a prompt investigation of your complaint, and a prompt response back as to findings and action taken.               c.   News Media - Some cities have radio and/or television stations that sponsor special programs that investigate complaints that are submitted by local residents. These programs can be helpful in resolving hospital complaints. In addition, we are aware of instances in which a thoughtful, well written "letter to the editor" to the local newspaper has achieved positive results in resolving hospital complaints.             NOTE: Because of the nature of hospital complaints, hospitalcomplaint.com cannot guarantee to anyone a positive outcome by using the information provided on our website (see "Agreement").