Head & Neck Surg-Central Va

Review: I was seen as a patient after a 3 month wait . I recieved a statement from my health care provider for one visit to the office I was charged over 500 dollars, charged for a surgery that was performed in the office that I never knew I had. I called and questioned the bill and was told that the bill was correct and that well she is a specialist. I explained to them that I was on a fixed income being retired and it would have been nice if the prices were disclosed prior to the visit.. they again replied she is a specialist ...I was appaled at the amount of my bill and told them I would not be back to cancel my follow up appt I could not afford her services. a couple weeks passed while I was there for my 1st and only visit I was also given a kit to take home and perform a sleep study I was assuming this was part of the visit then a get a bill for 3000 dollars from the sleep study company charging me $1000 a night for the study, once again I was never told there would be a charge and if so what the charge would be so I could be given the option to do this or not. I feel I have been taken advantage of by the dr office oin more ways than one and would like my bill adjusted due to the financial cost and the patient never being told about the charges prior to the visit. I feel this dr office is completly in the wrong for not making the patients aware of the cost especialy when the patient is on a fixed income. I have never been taken advantage of in this way by a dr office and find it very unprofessional for the dr to be allowed to do this to their patients!!Desired Settlement: I want my bill for the dr office as well as the sleep study to be reduced for the lack of making the patient aware and giving the patient the option to make choices in what king of medical decisions are made prior to the patient just being brought in the services rendered and being left in the dark until the bill comes. I only went to this docter because she was a preferred provider thru my insurance and wanted to go with the best financial choice because I am on a fixed income .

Business

Response:

RE: Revdex.com Case#: [redacted]This patient was referred to Head and Neck Surgery of Central VA by her primary care doctor forevaluation and treatment of multiple head and neck symptoms.All of her symptoms were addressed during her examination, which was billed as a CPT code [redacted]-anoffice consultation for a new patient, which includes a comprehensive history, a comprehensive exam,and medical decision making of moderate complexity. The "surgery" she refers to in her complaint wasan in-office laryngoscopy to examine the throat and vocal cords. This was billed as CPT code [redacted].The total billed by our office was filed with her insurance. The total out-of-pocket amount billed to thepatient has been discounted 75% per our negotiated fee schedule with her insurance company.The home sleep study kit was given to the patient to evaluate her witnessed sleep apnea. She was toldthat the most the patient would be responsible for would be $250.00 which would be billed by [redacted] Company. She was also given an "800" number to call to get detailed billing information andinstructions for the home sleep test. Per the [redacted] Diagnostic customer service representative on4/27/2016, the patient balance with them after her insurance paid is $250.00.The charges for services by Head and neck Surgery of Central VA have been heavily discounted due toour contract with her insurance company. The billing from the sleep study company, [redacted], isa separate entity, but has also been discounted per her insurance contract.Regards,[redacted]Head and Neck Surgery of Central VA

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

I received the message from dr [redacted] response and I do have insurance and went to her because she was a preferred provider w my ins co. At no time was I told of the fees for an office visit which I assummed like at my other dr visits there would be a co pay and that would be it...at no time was I told the procedure that was done was considered surgery ...I just assumed it was.part of the visit... there should be no reason why the financial choices cant be made by the patient not just the doctor. .. she has no idea what we can afford outside of our insurance which again I assumed was just my $40 copay. The sleep study was suggested no.prices were ever discussed at. Any time I had to wait for the kit to come back go into tge office to be explained how it worked and once again no mention was ever made about the $1000 a night charge again...this is is a terrible business practice trying to get over on people without them knowing until its too late ...I feel I was misguided as well as taken advantage of when a simple n piece of paper with the charges upon registering would have allowed me to make my own financial choices ...my fees should be waived for the dr misrepresentation for not disclose ing thisninformation...even after the visit I never got a reciept or anything I dint think its fair to the patient to be taken advantage of like this