Charged for medical services never given...

[Piecey]

On 10/06/08 I called my MD to get a blood pregnancy test to confirm the urine test I'd done over the weekend.
I went in, the nurse stuck me, took the blood, I paid ($61.50) and left.
The next day, I got my results. (It's a boy! )

Two weeks later I got a bill saying I owed them more money for a urine pregnancy test ($26.00). I called the number for billing, listed on the bill, that very day. I told them I didn't take a urine pregnancy test.
She said she'd fix it with the Dr. office, not to worry about it and not to pay it since the only debt outstanding was for that test.

Yesterday, I got a bill from a collection agency- they turned me over for this dang urine pregnancy test! So, today... I spent an hour on the phone with the Dr.'s office themselves.
The lady tells me that I was seen. I know I was seen, that isn't my problem. I assure her, though, that there is no way they did a urine pregnancy test as I gave them no urine. I laughed. She did not.
45 minutes later they have to pull my chart and get back to me because the computer says I had one.

I had to call billing to pay for another visit and they got angry with me because I refused to pay the full amount. I paid what I owed. Which I calculated by subtracting the $26 for the pregnancy test I didn't have.
She told me I couldn't do that, I had to pay the full amount. I said if she didn't take what I was willing to pay, thats fine, but I better not get turned over to another collection agency.

She took my "partial payment"... but wasn't very happy.

The Dr.'s office called me back and said their records show on the sheet for billing that I was given a pregnancy test by urine.


....I realize it's not a TON of money, but it makes me mad. Thats several hours of work for me and for something I WASN'T GIVEN! If they'd done one, which I wouldn't have objected to, fine. But they didn't!

...so anyone have any idea what my next step it?

I really don't want to go to collections over a stupid pregnancy test.

 

[teacups]

Some might be tempted to deliver some urine.... somewhere... in their waiting room....

Congratulations on the boy!

 

[Piecey]

Some might be tempted to deliver some urine.... somewhere... in their waiting room....

Congratulations on the boy!

Thanks..

 

[Uncle Remus]

On 10/06/08 I called my MD to get a blood pregnancy test to confirm the urine test I'd done over the weekend.
I went in, the nurse stuck me, took the blood, I paid ($61.50) and left.
The next day, I got my results. (It's a boy! )

Two weeks later I got a bill saying I owed them more money for a urine pregnancy test ($26.00). I called the number for billing, listed on the bill, that very day. I told them I didn't take a urine pregnancy test.
She said she'd fix it with the Dr. office, not to worry about it and not to pay it since the only debt outstanding was for that test.

Yesterday, I got a bill from a collection agency- they turned me over for this dang urine pregnancy test! So, today... I spent an hour on the phone with the Dr.'s office themselves.
The lady tells me that I was seen. I know I was seen, that isn't my problem. I assure her, though, that there is no way they did a urine pregnancy test as I gave them no urine. I laughed. She did not.
45 minutes later they have to pull my chart and get back to me because the computer says I had one.

I had to call billing to pay for another visit and they got angry with me because I refused to pay the full amount. I paid what I owed. Which I calculated by subtracting the $26 for the pregnancy test I didn't have.
She told me I couldn't do that, I had to pay the full amount. I said if she didn't take what I was willing to pay, thats fine, but I better not get turned over to another collection agency.

She took my "partial payment"... but wasn't very happy.

The Dr.'s office called me back and said their records show on the sheet for billing that I was given a pregnancy test by urine.


....I realize it's not a TON of money, but it makes me mad. Thats several hours of work for me and for something I WASN'T GIVEN! If they'd done one, which I wouldn't have objected to, fine. But they didn't!

...so anyone have any idea what my next step it?

I really don't want to go to collections over a stupid pregnancy test.

I hate that kinda stuff, I mean gettin' charged for services ya never received, I've never had to get checked for pregnancy stuff.

I'd say pay it since you've attempted a human resolution which was met with li'l response, but ya could march right on down there and inquire about this bill face to face with the office that claims you received that service and make them fix it rather than the billing office.


Good luck 'n big congrats!!

 

[TaraPA]

Some might be tempted to deliver some urine.... somewhere... in their waiting room....

Congratulations on the boy!

I love the way you think!

 

[luvmy3]

I would go to the office and request your medical records. There should be proof of a urine test in those, or in your case there would be none.

 

[lsyorke]

I would go to the office and request your medical records. There should be proof of a urine test in those, or in your case there would be none.

Exactly! If they can produce the lab results, then they have a case.(which you KNOW they can't)

 

[minniecarousel]

For what amounts to a 90-day past-due, they sent you to collections? Did they send you a bill every month since Oct? It seems that you could have argued this point if they had.

I'd tell them that there was no-way/no-how you were paying this bill, since you know what was done that day. They'll just have to take your word for it.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Contact your insurance company and let them handle it, that is fraud.

Suzanne

 

[Uncle Remus]

Contact your insurance company and let them handle it, that is fraud.

Suzanne

That's a really good point.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

That's a really good point.

I handle billing, so I know that office can get into a heap of trouble for charging for services not rendered and it can take alot of time and energy, that is why she pays for insurance.

Suzanne

 

[Piecey]

I handle billing, so I know that office can get into a heap of trouble for charging for services not rendered and it can take alot of time and energy, that is why she pays for insurance.

Suzanne

Alright.

They're getting a call tomorrow.

I don't know why I didn't think of that before... All this was before I met my deductible (Student insurance, so it started in August when the Fall semester did)...but they still got the bill, etc.

Thanks!

 

[Sleepy]

On 10/06/08 I called my MD to get a blood pregnancy test to confirm the urine test I'd done over the weekend.
I went in, the nurse stuck me, took the blood, I paid ($61.50) and left.
The next day, I got my results. (It's a boy! )

Two weeks later I got a bill saying I owed them more money for a urine pregnancy test ($26.00).

Here is my question. What doctors office is going to give a woman a urine AND blood test all in the same day to verify pregnancy?

 

[Piecey]

Here is my question. What doctors office is going to give a woman a urine AND blood test all in the same day to verify pregnancy?

Sorta my thoughts, too...

Now, if they really had we could be a little more mystified!!

 

[mhsjax]

Exactly! If they can produce the lab results, then they have a case.(which you KNOW they can't)

I don't see why they would have done a urine and blood test. doesn't make any sense. I know that sometimes they do I think if the mom is having some problems, and it is done to check hormone levels I think, but I could be wrong. Anyway, problem with lab results, is there won't be any, they use the same kind of strip that you use at home. When we recorded results all we wrote was Positive Urine HCG there is no specific lab report, because it isn't sent out for a urine test. They should write this off

 

[corndog]

Isn't the obvious answer to talk to the doctor?

 

[Carpenters]

Do not pay for testing that you did not receive! I work in a medical laboratory, and each test must be meticulously accounted for. They cannot charge you for a test you didn't receive, and no insurance will pay for unneccessary testing (like a urine and serum preg on the same day). The office must resolve this, and you should not have to pay for someone else's error. Someone somewhere down the line put through an automatic charge for a urine preg--Perhaps that's how they usually confirm pregnancy in the office?--but you should not have to pay for that.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

My time is worth money too - I would just pay the dang thing and forget about it. Too much aggravation.

 

[wdwmom2]

Isn't the obvious answer to talk to the doctor?

Probably not. It it best resolved by the billing dept and the office manager's help. Now, the manager may speak with the doc and asked if this test was ordered, or may speak with the person that actually does the labs to see if it was done. Most doctor's don't know much about billing, if anything, their job is to see and treat patients.

I wouldn't pay either. I would demand to see the results, even though you know there aren't any. I would also contact my insurance company right away and let them know you are being charged with a test that was never performed.

 

[crz4mm2]

I would go to the office and request your medical records. There should be proof of a urine test in those, or in your case there would be none.

If you had the test (which you did not) there will be a RESULT in the chart.
No result? No test.

I wouldn't pay it either.