A consolidated sumamry is often the kind of bill you get in the mail, but they aren't as detailed as itemized bills, and can often obscure errors or inflated charges.

A consolidated summary is the bill you probably got in the mail, and contains an overview of your procedures, charges and your total balance owed. Hospitals vary in format: Some may contain CPT codes or internal hospital codes, though they’re almost never as detailed as a real itemized bill. If you were seen by a doctor or physician at the hospital, you might also see professional charges on your bill.