Patient Fairness, founded in 2022, is a company focused on empowering Americans to challenge unfair medical bills. Since opening its doors to clients in 2023, the company has helped hundreds of individuals dispute problematic medical charges totaling over $1 million. This small but growing business operates from Tennessee, and with its technology-driven platform and mission to restore balance in the American healthcare system, Patient Fairness has quickly become a leader in an industry where other companies have attempted similar missions.
The heart of Patient Fairness lies in its Problem Medical Bill Assessment (PMBA), a tool designed to help customers assess whether their bill is a suitable candidate for dispute. According to the company’s founder, Matthew Ungs, “One of the first steps customers take with Patient Fairness is to complete the Problem Medical Bill Assessment to share details about the medical bill and its circumstances.” This assessment considers various aspects of the medical service received, such as the patient’s insurance status, the clarity of service and charge disclosures, and the relationship between the billed provider and the health plan network. Once Patient Fairness identifies potential grounds for disputing a bill, the customer can then decide to move forward with the company’s assistance in challenging it.
Photo Courtesy: Patient Fairness
Unlike other companies in the field, Patient Fairness stands out for its nuanced approach. Many of its clients are not necessarily victims of “rip-offs” but rather are confronting bills for services they may have agreed to, only to find the associated costs unreasonable or unexpected. For instance, Ungs explains, “Common reasons for dispute of a medical bill include the patient not knowing in advance of the services and prices that were to be charged, or the provider may have charged more than it said it would.” This clarity about the types of issues that arise gives Patient Fairness the expertise to address billing disputes from multiple angles, all aimed at securing fair treatment for its clients.
Ungs’ personal experience in the healthcare sector deeply influences the mission of Patient Fairness. Having spent decades in provider networks for health plans, Ungs was exposed to an industry in which “hospital systems, medical groups and health insurance plans financially thrived while health care prices and insurance costs soared.” His disillusionment with the inequities he observed led him to create a company focused on serving the rights of patients, who often feel helpless amid skyrocketing medical expenses and a lack of price transparency. Ungs highlights, “Patients were less customers, and more pawns or hostages, to providers and health plans.” With Patient Fairness, he sought to change that dynamic, putting control back into the hands of patients by helping them dispute bills where pricing and practices are out of alignment with fair treatment.
The current American healthcare landscape makes Patient Fairness’s services particularly essential. Other companies provide bill review services and dispute assistance, but Patient Fairness sets itself apart through its systematic, technology-enabled approach and its focus on empowerment. Where some businesses may center on high-stakes, high-dollar legal cases, Patient Fairness aims to support the average American who simply suspects their bill is unfair but doesn’t know how to address the issue. The company’s platform is accessible and affordable, designed with the intention of helping as many patients as possible.
Photo Courtesy: Patient Fairness
Ungs envisions significant growth for the company, noting that the United States sees an estimated 70 million problematic medical bills each year. “We serve all 50 states, and support almost any type of medical bill dispute, so Patient Fairness can help most of the people who receive annually the estimated 70 million problem medical bills,” he explains. The company is focused on increasing public awareness about its services to reach a wider audience. By educating patients about their rights and equipping them with tools to navigate billing disputes, Patient Fairness aims to create a movement in which more Americans feel empowered to take control of their healthcare costs.
Running a business like Patient Fairness in the United States offers unique advantages. According to Ungs, “The United States makes it relatively easy to start a business…Few countries offer that degree of freedom to starting a business. America fosters new business growth and innovation as well as, or better than, any country.” This freedom has allowed Patient Fairness to operate independently and quickly, positioning it as a nimble competitor in an industry dominated by large providers and insurance companies. Based in Tennessee, the company benefits from being in a major healthcare hub while maintaining the flexibility to operate remotely as well. “Nashville is a major hub for the healthcare industry, and that allows me to observe health care trends and developments in person,” Ungs explains. The future for Patient Fairness is one of expanded impact and innovation. Ungs is driven by his belief that patients deserve fair treatment, and he is dedicated to building a company that offers a straightforward, effective pathway for patients who believe they have been overcharged or unfairly billed. “Patient Fairness is designed to serve the average patient who suspects that he is not getting fair treatment on a medical bill, but doesn’t know all of his rights or how to go about successfully disputing a bill,” he says. In offering a transparent, affordable service from a veteran insider in healthcare payments and insurance networks, Patient Fairness offers expertise that is rare and, for many patients, transformative.
The medical billing landscape in America is complicated, and many people feel trapped by confusing charges and high fees. Patient Fairness aims to change this, addressing issues like unexpected out-of-network bills, high mark-ups on services, and insufficient price disclosure. By combining Ungs’ expertise with innovative technology, Patient Fairness is poised to become a leader in the field, helping to alleviate the financial burden that affects so many Americans.
Published by: Holy Minoza
