Mom who gave birth in hospital parking lot surprised at full delivery charge

Paula D’Amore expected to pay a little less for giving birth to her daughter in April, because she never actually made it inside Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

"We drove up, my husband ran out and I said she's crowning and her head came out," D'Amore told WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida.

D’Amore said her husband caught the baby’s head after asking nurses for help, and those nurses did assist with the rest of the delivery.

What she’s been charged, however, is more fitting for a patient who spent hours in a hospital bed before giving birth, according to D’Amore, who was surprised when she received a bill for $7,000. D’Amore had budgeted for the full amount, but expected to get an adjustment based on the special circumstances of the birth.

"I knew that I was responsible for the $5,000 deductible. I get it, I'm going to pay the bill, that's not the issue, the issue is that I'm like, I look at this delivery charge and I think that's a little outrageous," said D'Amore.

Thomas Chakurda, Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s vice president for marketing, said in an emailed statement to the Sun-Sentinel the fire-lane delivery was reviewed and the hospital felt this was a suitable billing.

"The hospital appropriately bills for the medical services and care it provides and has determined that the level of care provided and billing were appropriate in this instance," Chakurda said.　

D’Amore said she may have to accept the charges and set up a payment plan, but would like an apology from the hospital.