topic Re: quick HIPAA question in Recovering from Medical Debt

quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:02:04 GMT

ok so i accidently sent my pre-hipaa letters CMRRR to the CRA's!! i have never sent anything certified so when the gal at the grocery store asked if i wanted a return receipt i said sure. i now know that you're not supposed to do that but i've already gotten back the 3 green cards from the CRA's and today i just got a letter back from EQ verifying my PAID medical collection. the audit company's info is listed as well.

what is my next move?? do i wait for the other CRA responses before i go to the next step or can i start it right now?

thanks guys!!

Re: quick HIPAA question

fused — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:33:17 GMT

Did you opt-out with the CRAs and your creditors that you are in good standing with? Did you update your personal info on your reports?

Yes, wait for the results from all the CRAs you sent pre-HIPAA letters to. Once these investigations are completed, please post the results in this thread before proceeding with the HIPAA letter process.

Re: quick HIPAA question

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:08:39 GMT

i have an opt out question. (sorry for asking this on your question) but if i am opting out of creditors who i am in good standing with...does that mean like my credit cards? or just medical collections that have been paid?

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:09:31 GMT

yes, i have already opted out of the creditors i'm in good standing with as well as updated my information with all of the CRA's.

i will wait until news from TU and EX come in and will post back

thanks!

ebonygirl: the personalized stationary is supposed to make your letter stand out so a person reads it and not some automated system if the research i've done is correct. if the paper is different and the font/color i think the machine or whatever can't read it...

every creditor needs to be sent the opt-out letter!! i had to send my letters to over 8 different companies!!

hope this helps

Re: quick HIPAA question

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:19:05 GMT

The CRAs scan all disputes they do not read them. You do not want this sooooo. Using blue/green paper & typing in italics can not be scanned. IMO it is always better to hand write everything!!! They can not scan handwritting!

CRAs and CCC sell your info to others. If you opt-out they can not do this. Other CAs can not get any info on you or your collections.

The best is to opt-out with at least the CRAs.

Message Edited by HappyDays on 03-14-2009 09:19 AM

Re: quick HIPAA question

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:58:04 GMT

okay thanks. i have opted out on all CRAs i just didn't understand fully the one about the creditors. the site that was a link for creditors didnt do a good job expaining (at least for me) about who to send the opt out info to

Re: quick HIPAA question

fused — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:03:39 GMT

You should opt-out only with the creditors you are in GOOD standing with. You do not opt-out with creditors you're in bad standing with.

In sum, do NOT opt-out with collection agencies, comapnies you have a charge-off with, or a creditor that you are currently late with.

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 07:27:18 GMT

ok, so yesterday in the mail i received letters back from EX and TU. (remember i had already gotten my response from EQ the week before).

the TU letter states my collection is verified, no change. another page is included with adverse accounts and my medical collection is STILL LISTED!!!

the EX letter is like 16 pages long! they have given me a 2-page insert describing their online process for disputing..and then the rest is my whole complete credit report from them. under the section adverse accounts the medical collection is listed...what does that mean? don't they just tell you if your dispute worked or not??

i would like to know what letter/step to do next please!! do i follow the scenario where the CRA's have validated my PAID medical collection which involves sending a CMRRR to the OC???

ok, so i needed to edit this to clarify i have NOT received any letter whatsoever from the CA yet regarding my pre-hipaa letters to the CRA's. i sent those certified letters feb 28th they (the CA) have until march 31st or so right to send me a letter???

thanks!!! hopefully once this is done i'll have a success story!!!

Message Edited by blondie_keen on 03-18-2009 02:27 AM

Re: quick HIPAA question

fused — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:26:23 GMT

I doubt the CA will send you validation, but I would wait until the 31st. Please post again here before proceeding with more HIPAA letters.

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:04:44 GMT

thanks FUSED for the advice!! i will not do a thing until April 1st...

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:24:04 GMT

ok, so it is almost time for me to continue with the next step in the HIPAA process FUSED!

What is the next letter I need to get ready to send on April 1st since I have yet to get a confirmation/validation from the CA

thanks again! can't wait to FINALLY get this off my reports

Re: quick HIPAA question

fused — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:38:14 GMT

Please wait until the deadline.

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:26:45 GMT

ok it is OFFICIALLY the first day i can continue with my next step in the HIPAA process-now what FUSED??!!!

Re: quick HIPAA question

fused — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:19:24 GMT

Check your reports to see if this collection is marked as "disputed and verified".

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:46:42 GMT

um ok...do you mean by going to each website and typing in the dispute number from the "verified" letters i received in the mail by the CRA's and check that way??

or is there another way...SORRY i'm confused

Re: quick HIPAA question

fused — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:28:26 GMT

Yes!

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:29:34 GMT

when i pulled up my EX report on their website under the medical collection it says under the status details:

this item was verified on march 2009 and remains unchanged

i'm not exactly sure where to go on the EQ website to see my disputed status. i finally just checked the box that i was denied credit in order to see my free report online but EQ came back with a message saying they are unable to deliver my credit file online...

am i missing the page where i enter my EQ confirmation number i received in the mail???!!!!

ok so i stumbled upon this one page where i entered my confirmation # from the letter in the mail i received and all it says is that they mailed a letter to me march 6, 2009 and one on feb 13, 2009 (which is i believe for when i updated my info for the beginning of the HIPAA process)

*all the letter states is that EQ has verified that the item in question belongs to me...

on my TU page where i can view my credit file/report under the collection is listed as: date verified 02/2009

HOPEFULLY THIS MEANS I'M READY FOR THE NEXT STEP-RIGHT??

thanks again FUSED for all of your help-i'd really be lost w/o it!

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:30:00 GMT

just patiently waiting for info on what my next step should be FUSED : )

i might get one of those "scenario letter" ready but i won't mail anything until i hear back from you

many thanks in advance again

Re: quick HIPAA question

fused — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 01:42:24 GMT

Since the CRAs “verified" your paid collection but the CA did not provide an accurate and complete validation, send this letter to the CA.

ALTERNATIVE MED DV LETTER TO THE CA

After you receive the green card for the Alt Med DV letter to the CA, mail this follow-up dispute letter along with a copy of the green card from the ALT DV letter to the CRA(s) CMRRR. Good luck!

FOLLOW-UP DISPUTE LETTER (2) TO THE CRA'S

Re: quick HIPAA question

blondie_keen — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:46:17 GMT

THANK YOU!!

I already fashioned my letter and will send it out first thing tomorrow! So excited to get the ball rolling again.

I'll keep you all updated with my prognosis