How can I fight an emergency room hospital charge?

Most of the time; hospital billings are inflated for submission to "for profit" medical insurance companies who then reduce what they pay on a normal basis.

In other words, you were most likely over charged. Unless you can prove that the charges are not reasonable under the circumstances, you best course of action is to call the hospital, and offer a settlement of the amount owed at a lower amount.

Hospitals are under no obligation to disclose the cost of procedures in advance, so there is no basis there for a reduction. And arguing that you've been overcharged would be very difficult, since if peopel could do that, *everyone* would argue it and all bills would be cut down. The assumption is, absent fraud or double billing, that hospital charges are valid (not necessarily "reasonable," but valid).

I assume you don't have insurance? Level with the hospital--explain that you don't have coverage and that paying will be a hardship. There's a good chance they'll make *some* reduction, but they are not legally bound to--you're appealing to their better nature, so phrase your approach accordingly.