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MercyMe wrote:Hey, all. Here's the deal -- I have a disabled child, and for the past 9 years he has undergone everything from open heart surgery to brain scans and countless therapies.All of his medical has always been paid, 100%, by Medicaid.Two years ago he had his yearly head and neck X-rays as an out patient at one of our usual hospitals, and as usual, upon admission, they made a copy of his medicaid card and my driver's license. I have never, ever ever received a bill for any service rendered to him, and most certainly never expected to get one.Two weeks ago I received a scorewatch alert, from MyFico, telling me that my credit score dive bombed more than 70 points. (From 662 to 590). This was due to 2 new medical collections for the x-rays my son had two years ago, and for which I never received a bill -- and that was because the collection agency had my address wrong -- but anyway, upon speaking with the original creditor, the hospital, I was told that they didn't bill Medicaid because they had no Medicaid information on my son, which is nonsense, because we've been in that hospital a thousand times (at least) and had the same x-rays done at least a hundred times, and Medicaid was always billed and always paid.Their mistake, for not looking into his records for insurance coverage, nor looking at the admissions form which had his medicaid number on it -- right? Not so, according to them. According to them, because I didn't contact them regarding the bills they sent out (which I never received) and because it's too late for them to bill Medicaid, not only do I have to pay, but they are refusing to take the collections off my credit file. The best they will do, they say, is mark them "Paid Collections" which might raise my score to what, and in how long? 5 points in a year? So, anyway, here I am, after three and a half years of paying every single bill on time, and monitorring my credit like a hawk -- having been non-existent for so long -- with a credit score of 590, and just when I need a car.Any advice? Anyone?Thanks.Dispute the charges. First contact the hospital and let them know that your son's treatment was covered by medicaid and that they need to bring it back from the OCA. Most hospitals will do that gladly if they overlooked billing. If they failed to file a claim, that is not your responsibillity. If they give you a hard time, let them know that the info was provided and they never billed you and dispute it with the credit bureas. They can still bill medicaid as long as services were rendered during a time he was covered.