Hospital Billing Department Issues
I recently recieved a bill from an ER visit in February on Thursday the 12th. I called on Friday the 13th in the morning to requested an itemized bill as the bill I recieved simply stated the money I owed. As of today I still had not recieved that bill. I called again and got a different person ( I documented their name and extention) to ask if my itemized bill had been sent out, and that if it had not for them to please send one.
This is where it gets odd. I was told there was no record that I requested an itemized bill on the 13th. The woman in billing claimed that my explanation of benefits that I "recieved" (she assumed wrong I had to ask my insurance company to resend that...HR didn't update my address) was my bill, and because I did not pay the bill at the time I recieved my explanation of benefits my account was late and would shortly go into collections. I asked her if she was stating that my insurance company was responsible for billing me for the hospital's charges and she said yes...the hospital was not responsible for sending the bill. She was trying to get out of sending me my itemized bill.
On my bill I recieved on Thursday I was given 15 days from the date of the bill (dated march 5th) to pay the account in full. It then goes on to an "or else" type statement. I know for a fact this woman is wrong. I have attempted to speak with her supervisor unsuccessfully (not there, no answer, straight to voicemail, dealing with another customer, etc.)...I already contacted my insurance company to notify them of my issue and they have offered to assist me in a conference call with the supervisor if he/she claims the same thing. By trying to not send me the itemized bill is this woman violating HIPPA?
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