Chicago filmmaker sheds light on hospital billing practices

When Rebecca Schanberg's documentary, "Do No Harm," debuts in Chicago tonight, she says people might wish they had not seen it.

"One person said to me, 'I really wish I hadn't seen this,'" she says.

The film tells the story of two Albany, Ga., men, physician John Bagnato and accountant Charles Rehberg, who in 2003 blew the whistle on their local hospital, Phoebe Putney. They showed in shocking detail how the hospital was overcharging poor people, forcing many into bankruptcy and showing no remorse, even as it had millions in off-shore accounts.

The hospital denies those claims.

But, Schanberg, 37, says is that the practice is widespread - especially in Illinois.

"I thought the doctors knew about what happened once their patients walked out the door, but they have no idea," says Schanberg, a Chicago resident who also calls New York home.

The film premiered at the Little Rock Film Festival last week, and was nominated for best documentary.

The Daily News asked Schanberg about her interest in the story, and what people in Chicago will take away from it.

For more, check out the Chi-Town Daily News.