SSM Health: A Patient Warning

The Bill

SSM Health's response to their doctor losing control of a Bravo pH capsule during my procedure was a $50 discount.
~$1,097

Original disputed charge

~$3,151

Now in collections

$50

SSM Health's only adjustment

800+ → 760

Credit score before and after

The original disputed charge was roughly $1,097. It included the pulmonologist and anesthesia services associated with the emergency bronchoscopy — the rescue procedure required because SSM Health's own doctor lost control of the Bravo capsule. That balance has since ballooned to over $3,151 in collections.

The point of this page is not to debate any single line item. The point is that SSM Health, in nearly a year of weekly billing-department calls and written dispute correspondence, has reduced my bill by exactly fifty dollars — while the balance they sent to collections has tripled.

"Your dispute is under review with the Opportunity for Improvement team. This can take up to 30 days."

— SSM Health Billing Department, July 30, 2025
251

Days since that 30-day window expired.

The only adjustment SSM Health has made to my bill is $50.