5 minutes in emergency room = $30,000 bill

SACRAMENTO, CA - The parents of a Sacramento State student beaten to death in his dorm room received a bill from the UC Davis Medical Center -- a bill for nearly $30,000...

The hospital says the bill is correct and reflects the services the staff provided to Hawkins after he was beaten by his roommate.

But what could possibly cost $30,000 in five minutes? Some say the answer is why we have a health care reform debate...

Scott Seamons with the California Hospital Council said the critical response to Hawkins is what cost the most. He said UC Davis is a Level 1 Trauma Center, which means the best and most expensive doctors were waiting for Scott.

"Whether it was five minutes or 55 minutes doesn't really matter in the initial review and assessment of the patient," he said.

Trauma surgeons, nurses, technicians and others had to treat Scott before they realized they couldn't help, according to Seamons...

More details at the link.