ABSTRACT

In most instances, institution-based death investigations are also a simple matter in terms of funding. There are often no specific charges levied by the hospital or institution for the performance of an institution-based death investigation and autopsy. Institutions do receive federal dollars that are used to support the autopsy and death investigation service, and some funds from other billings are also used to support the autopsy service. Thus, the institution generates an overhead amount of money which is used to support the autopsy service. Usually the pathologists are on a salary and there is no specific billing on a case-by-case basis, and the institution often has a morgue with ongoing expenses for lighting, supplies, and so forth. Therefore, the financial impact on the hospital, whether the institution performs 50 autopsies a year or 75, is negligible because costs are relatively fixed. The morgue and the doctors are already there, and the autopsy cases and death investigations are conducted as needed. The cost for supplies to do an autopsy is relatively small, and most expenses involve the tissue processing and lab tests that may be done. However, in recent years with rising costs of health care and medical personnel, some institutions have begun to charge if an autopsy is performed. Be sure to find out if you will be billed for an autopsy performed in a hospital.