The response above is good advice but I wouldn’t expect much because the person you’ll be speaking with will have zero autonomy in their job and will not be able to help you in the least.

To be honest I’d go straight to an attorney, pay him his hourly rate, and see if he can shake the fruit from the tree.

A good attorney will know how to cut to the chase and get to the decision makers quickly. He’ll explain your case and how it might look to the public or a jury and you will likely end up with a settlement, although I doubt they would wipe out the entire bill.

Hospitals are institutionally dishonest when it comes to billing patients and insurance.