Charged for medical services never given...

[TinkerbEllnor]

I had a similar issue, but being charged for an appointment.

I called my doc office to get a refill for a routine med. They look at my chart and say "you need a physical first". OK, make the appointment.

I get to the appointment and doc asked why I am there. Um, for the physical your office told me I needed to schedule. He actually said "no, you are not, if it was for a physical, you'd be scheduled for 45 minutes, and you are only scheduled for 15. You need to make another appointment."

I was fuming at the waste of my time, but rescheduled. When I got the bill for that office visit, I blew my top. I told them in no uncertain terms that the error in scheduling was THEIR problem and if the charge was not removed, I would be finding a new doctor's office immediately. (which I am still doing anyway, but they didn't need to know that) They took it off.

 

[Piecey]

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

No, I didn't even see my doctor.... so what could she do for me?
I walked in, got stuck by the nurse, and walked back out. 5 minutes top.

I tried to call my insurance company, as the Dr.'s office didn't call me back with any more information today (as of now, I'm done with them) but they said they have limited staffing due to inclement weather and if the call could be made later in the week, please call later in the week.
So I'll call later in the week.

As for my time is worth money.. Yes.. BUT.. I call on my lunch breaks at work. I work 1/2 hour from home.. so my lunches have lost time anyway (an hour). With all the time I spend on hold, I can easily eat my lunch while on hold and accomplish the phone call before the hour is up.

 

[luvmy3]

No, I didn't even see my doctor.... so what could she do for me?
I walked in, got stuck by the nurse, and walked back out. 5 minutes top.

I tried to call my insurance company, as the Dr.'s office didn't call me back with any more information today (as of now, I'm done with them) but they said they have limited staffing due to inclement weather and if the call could be made later in the week, please call later in the week.
So I'll call later in the week.

As for my time is worth money.. Yes.. BUT.. I call on my lunch breaks at work. I work 1/2 hour from home.. so my lunches have lost time anyway (an hour). With all the time I spend on hold, I can easily eat my lunch while on hold and accomplish the phone call before the hour is up.

Your doctor would have access to your chart and would be able to go through it and let you know if there was documentation of a urine test. A phone call to him/her may be all you need.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

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?

My Dr. When I teted positive at home with my DD10, I went to the Dr. office. I was first given a urine test to determine if I was pg or not (had issues with a previous pregnancy that ended in miscarriage), then they took blood to determine exactly how far along I was.

Both were done on the same day, and insurance paid for both of them.

 

[marlynnp]

Do you still have your receipt for the payment you made that day for the blood test? I would offer that as further proof that you paid for the services that were rendered that day.
Based on the response you got when you recently paid and they didn't want to accept 'partial' payment, why would they have let you pay for one test and not the other?

 

[ChrizJen]

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

I'm wondering if this is maybe where the mix-up lies. Someone perhaps noted on the OP's file that there was a positive Urine HCG Test, but failed to mention that it was a HOME test, and was not administered by the doctor's office. I would definitely keep trying to pursue the issue. I wouldn't let it go. At this point, it's more about principle than the money itself. Home pregnancy tests are expensive enough! You shouldn't have to pay for another test that was never done!!

Congratulations BTW!!!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Well maybe you "took" my urine test yesterday. I went to the doctor yesterday and she requested a urine sample. Couldn't produce one(I don't work well under pressure lol) but the nurse comes back to tell the doctor in a loud whisper Mrs. H is pregnant! The doctor started laughing because she knew I didn't take a test. I swear they just grab some urine and slap a name on it whether it's the right patient or not.

I wonder if someone doing a test anylsis just confused the names.

 

[wilderness01]

Well maybe you "took" my urine test yesterday. I went to the doctor yesterday and she requested a urine sample. Couldn't produce one(I don't work well under pressure lol) but the nurse comes back to tell the doctor in a loud whisper Mrs. H is pregnant! The doctor started laughing because she knew I didn't take a test. I swear they just grab some urine and slap a name on it whether it's the right patient or not.
I wonder if someone doing a test anylsis just confused the names.

That is completely untrue and would result in a write up where I work. Too many write ups with labs and you are gone.

I would also call the doctor and explain what happened. He or she should be able to take care of this for you. Don't waste your time with the other staff any longer as they aren't helping you.

OP: Just to let you know if the charge is under $50 it will not appear on your credit, so I wouldn't be too quick to pay.

 

[themarquis]

Wow ... maybe it's just me, but I think I would end up giving them the 26 bucks or whatever to save me several hours of haggling with various people on the phone. I know it's the principal of the thing, but I'd be inclined to let it go so I didn't end up wasting my precious time getting po'ed about the whole thing!

You've gotta think -- how much do I make an hour (if you work ... or if you don't , what is the minimum you'd work for?). Let's say you spend 5 hours straightening this out (not to mention all the worrying and anger and lost sleep!!). That's what ... 5 bucks an hour?

Not worth it!

 

[wilderness01]

I hear what you are saying about what is your time worth, but it is a principal thing I would think.

Again, go to the doctor. If the doctor ordered a urine pregnancy test and signed it, then he isn't going to remember if you had it or not. But somewhere there is documentation regarding this test.

 

[Abbie]

I'm wondering if this is maybe where the mix-up lies. Someone perhaps noted on the OP's file that there was a positive Urine HCG Test, but failed to mention that it was a HOME test, and was not administered by the doctor's office. I would definitely keep trying to pursue the issue. I wouldn't let it go. At this point, it's more about principle than the money itself. Home pregnancy tests are expensive enough! You shouldn't have to pay for another test that was never done!!

Congratulations BTW!!!

I'm thinking this is probably exactly what happened.

That said, I would be making sure the doctor knows exactly how ridiculous their billing practices/office are! I can't believe you were not allowed to pay the portion of your bill not in dispute, or at least that they gave you such a hard time about it. It's such a petty amount to argue over and alienate a patient. It should be written off, especially since it's clear there was a potential for error. If one of our patients ever called and told us that, it would be cheerfully whipped off the bill and over and done with! Along with an apology to boot!

 

[bearynice]

Wow ... maybe it's just me, but I think I would end up giving them the 26 bucks or whatever to save me several hours of haggling with various people on the phone. I know it's the principal of the thing, but I'd be inclined to let it go so I didn't end up wasting my precious time getting po'ed about the whole thing!

You've gotta think -- how much do I make an hour (if you work ... or if you don't , what is the minimum you'd work for?). Let's say you spend 5 hours straightening this out (not to mention all the worrying and anger and lost sleep!!). That's what ... 5 bucks an hour?

Not worth it!

The problem with this approach is that they may be doing this routinely. In which case they're making money in a fairly big way in amounts small enough that most people won't notice or fight it.

Sometimes you fight the small fights just because the truth matters.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Wow, that is so aggravating. And not a bit surprising. I had to deal with bills for services my mother didn't receive. Including a chemo treatment that supposedly occurred a week after she died. I remember the stupid person saying "are you sure she didn't just decide to go ahead and get one more treatment?" Um yeah, very sure.

I agree with others, this is likely an error on the doctor's part. Make sure they get their end handled.

I hope you get it worked out and I say keep fighting the good fight!

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Sometimes you fight the small fights just because the truth matters.

Exactly

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you called your insurance company yet?

I once had a problem with my then-PCP charging me what insurance didn't cover. Problem was, they were a preferred provider, and weren't supposed to. Office wouldn't budge, so I called insurance. They LOVED to know that this office was charging, she put me on hold, called the office, got it straightened out, and it was all done.



I'd also request records AND an itemized bill. Low staff or not, they have to get that info to you.

 

[delilah]

Sometimes, billing offices can be really stupid and stubborn. I remember once that I paid up front my portion of the cost of a dental crown (about $600 or so). This was when I was in medical school, and $600 was a small fortune for me. In exchange for paying up front, I was to have received a discount on the total charge for the service, like 15% or so. I use a different last name than my husband, and for some obscure reason known only to the moron working in the dentist's billing office, the amount was credited to my husband's account. The idiots then proceeded to refund the money 6 mos later to my husband, and demanded that I repay the bill! When I refused to do so (instead I returned the refund check they issued my husband), they released me from their practice.

 

[Nancy]

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

Suzanne

yep, there are written procedures in place to handle those calls.

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

Exactly, I work in insurance so you and I deal with the same thing just on opposite ends.

 

[anniemae]

I feel your pain. One time a simple clerical error resulted in literally hours of my time spent on the phone with my ins. co, testing lab, billing dept, dr. office etc. It was finally corrected, but as I said, it took a lot of time and was very frustrating for me because everyone kept saying they were not at fault, and I was stuck holding a $600 bill. It was all because of a simple clerical error. In the end it was fixed, and i know everyone makes mistakes, but man was it a hassle.

No advice OP, just feeling your pain...........

 

[Totally Tink]

I wish you the best of luck. And I think you should stick to your guns until you get your money back!

 

[figment52]

Ask them for a copy of the urine test result and the results of the blood test. If they can't produce two reports with your name on it you shouldn't have to pay for two tests.