Evidently, Im good at ticking people off. At my audiologist appointment, I was reminded that I had a $12.50 balance from Februarys vertigo treatment - tried to pay in cash - they didnt have change, so no transaction - bill me. All agree. After my hearing test (all is well), Im asked to wait to see the Doc for my follow-up visit for the vertigo treatment. After an hour wait, a technician comes from the back and says that I can 1) either resign another office policy statement or 2) pay for the entire service up front in cash prior to receiving services - plus I owe $150 for the covered hearing test. I ask Why? The technician says the office manager didnt like the fact that I had altered the office policy statement last time and reduced their ability to bill me only for covered services and no more - and that they could only seek payment up to and including the negotiated rate or UCR (usual, customary, and reasonable) charges - whichever is less. To which I said Yes. That was exactly my intention. Were you trying to bill me for services not covered under the insurance contract for nefarious gain or beyond what was medically necessary or for services not previously agreed to by me or the insurance company? They didnt know what the word nefarious meant - but thats OK - they were ticked off by this point. They said I had to pay - I said I already received services and paid my co-pay and deductible. That didnt please them either. They asked me what I didnt agree with on the policy. I said go look at the one I previously signed. Everything scratched out or reworded are the items I didnt agree with. They couldnt produce that document. They said - look at this one and tell us what I dont agree with. I looked and said For starters, that fact that you think Ill sign a document that indicates that if I miss or am late for an appointment, that you can and will be me $100 - this is one point I dont agree with and - at a minimum - prohibits me from signing the document. Then I said Why is this document different from the one I signed? They looked at me like the RCA dog until I pointed out the new statement has a revision date of 3/15/2014 - I asked them what was different between the previous version and this one. They werent happy and couldnt answer the question. I told them that Id need to talk with my insurance company prior to signing the policy/agreement. I made them wait an extra 30 minutes - and Im still waiting for my Doc for my follow-up - before I came up to the desk and indicated On advice of my insurance company, since Ive met my co-pay and deductible expense for the treatment, I am under no obligation what so ever to sign any agreement or policy for services to be rendered, since the particulars of providing treatment are specified under the contract between the insurance company and the doctors practice. I said, Im leaving. The technician and the front desk people are upset, I head to the parking lot, some other gal comes marching outside and asks why Im not paying my deductible and co-pay. I indicated that I tried, but you didnt have change for cash - and the front desk people agreed. She stopped in her tracks, looking grumpy/arms crossed, and I headed back to work. I dont think Im on their Christmas card list for this year.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 00:14:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015