MEDICAL BILLS, HIPPA, & COLLECTION AGENCIES

[terrymurph]

I HAVE AN OLD EMERGENCY ROOM BILL FROM MCDONOUGH DISTRICT HOSPITAL IN MACOMB, IL. I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN 2004 AND THE PERSON WHO HIT ME WAS COVERED BY STATE FARM AT LEAST I THOUGHT. HE HAD A PHONY INSURANCE CARD AND INFO, NEEDLESS TO SAY I ENDED UP BEING STUCK WITH A 750$ EMERGENCY ROOM BILL. THE HOSPITAL SENT THE BILL TO COLLECTION PROFESSIONALS, WHO IS NOW COLLECTING ON THE DEBT. I CALLED THEM DIRECTLY AND EXPLAINED THE WHOLE SCENARIO ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I THEN OFFERED THEM PFD. THE SUPERVISOR I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO, AND THEY DO NOT REMOVE ITEMS FROM CREDIT REPORTS. I THEN SENT THEM A LETTER TO VERIFY THE DEBT AND ALSO ASKED THEM(COLLECTION PROF.) TO SEND ME PROOF OF SAID DEBT SIGNATURES ETC... THEY SENT ME THE CONSENT FORM I SIGNED THEIR BILL AND THE RECEIPT FROM THE HOSPITAL WITH ALL SERVICES RENDERED INCLUDING X RAYS INJURIES AND OTHER INFO. IS THIS AGAINST HIPAA REGULATIONS AND IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE I NEVER SIGNED ANY RELEASE FORMS FOR THEM TO RECEIVE MY MEDICAL INFORMATION. IF SO WHAT IS IT THAT I CAN DO, IM NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH HIPAA. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP

[Anonymous]

Can you afford to pay the bill in full?

[terrymurph]

Yes i can.

[bruiseviolet]

Nobody had an answer?  I am really confused over medical bills.  all of mine are in collection agency hands- but 3 of them have exact duplicates- which I obviously want to dispute because i believe they are nothing more than a duplicate and that I don't actually owe the money on those.  Do I send a DV letter?  I am so confused about how to proceed with medical collection accounts.  Unfortunately 99% of my baddies on my credit report are from unpaid medical bills now in collections.  =(

[MissMia75]

It does not appear to be a violation because in fact you did ask for them to validate the debt.