topic Re: Medical Collections Question, now I'm confused in Rebuilding Your Credit

Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:14:56 GMT

Hi to all! Love this site!!! I have learned so much! This is my first question as I am completely confused and hoping that someone can help.

I received a bill for $118.06 from Financial Control Services on behalf of Temple Emergency Physicians. THIS IS NOT YET BEING REPORTED ON MY CREDIT REPORT. I do not know where this bill is coming from or what it is for, though I may have an idea. What I am thinking it is this: I had gone to the ER last year. My co-pay is $100. I paid that.

I am thinking that this is a seperate bill since I know some hospitals contract dr's out from other places and I shouldn't have to pay this since my insurance pays everything else. (This has happened to a friend of mine) My question is this. Who do I contact? Should I contact the OC and find out what this is for and then send a DV?

I have read a lot of the threads here regarding the HIPPA process and it says not to ever DV a CA since you are basically giving them permission to access your medical records. In another, it says to send the pre-hippa letter to the CRA asking for them to verify the information, however, I cannot do this as this is not yet being reported.

I apologize for being long winded, but this is stressing me out!!

Any help or advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks!

Re: Medical Collections Question

fused — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:21:09 GMT

Call the original creditor, Temple Emergency Physicians, and ask what you owe and what it was for. Do not call the CA, Financial Control Services.

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:47:16 GMT

Thank you fused! Now I have another question.

Once I call Temple Emergency Physicians to inquire about this bill, what steps do I take next if I actually owe the bill, or if I don't?

If they say that I owe them, (which I shouldn't because my insurance pays 100% minus my $100 deductible which has been paid to the Hospital where I rec'd care) should I send a DV lettter to them?

I apologize, but I am SOOO confused!

Re: Medical Collections Question/a question too

let — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:09:47 GMT

I have the same thing, my credit reports states SEGUIN TEXAS EMERGENCY PHYSCIANS, I called the hospital, thinking that it was a bill from them since both of my kids seemed to always get sick after the Dr's Office closed! The hospital said that it was the ER doctors that were billing me. You probably went to the ER. I do have a question though, can I still use the HIPPA process with the ER doctors??

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:19:09 GMT

soccergirltx, Contact the hosp. like fused said. If this bill is from the ER doc. Then contact them. Find out if they filed a claim with your ins.com.

If they did and you are sure that you owe them.....I would pay them and use the restrictive endorsment on the check! Do not pay over the phone. When the bill is paid then start the HIPAA process if a CA is reporting.

Never DV a medical debt ( not the same DV as used for normal debt)

Re: Medical Collections Question/a question too

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 22:13:00 GMT

let, the HIPAA process is for all paid medical debt!!

Message Edited by HappyDays on 01-28-2009 02:13 PM

Re: Medical Collections Question

fused — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:21:03 GMT

soccergirltx wrote:

Thank you fused! Now I have another question.

Once I call Temple Emergency Physicians to inquire about this bill, what steps do I take next if I actually owe the bill, or if I don't?

If they say that I owe them, (which I shouldn't because my insurance pays 100% minus my $100 deductible which has been paid to the Hospital where I rec'd care) should I send a DV lettter to them?

I apologize, but I am SOOO confused!

One step at a time. Ask the OC what is owed to them (if you owe them) and for what. Post the results here before we start talking about DV letters. BTW, a DV letter is never sent to the OC, it's sent to CAs.

Re: Medical Collections Question/a question too

let — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:21:43 GMT

thanks, just making sure!!

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:30:22 GMT

Thank you HappyDays and Fused!

So let me get this right (I promise I am not usually on the short bus) lol

When I call Emergency Physicians regarding this bill, do I mention that I rec'd a bill from a CA? (I thought I had read to not mention it)

Ask if they filed with my insurance. I am thinking that I need to call my insurance and verify who they paid. Once I can determine if I actually DO owe this money, pay Emergency Physicians the money with a check (Can this be a personal check?) with the restrictive endorsement. Then follow the HIPPA process.

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:31:57 GMT

@fused wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

Thank you fused! Now I have another question.

Once I call Temple Emergency Physicians to inquire about this bill, what steps do I take next if I actually owe the bill, or if I don't?

If they say that I owe them, (which I shouldn't because my insurance pays 100% minus my $100 deductible which has been paid to the Hospital where I rec'd care) should I send a DV lettter to them?

I apologize, but I am SOOO confused!

One step at a time. Ask the OC what is owed to them (if you owe them) and for what. Post the results here before we start talking about DV letters. BTW, a DV letter is never sent to the OC, it's sent to CAs.

I know, I tend to get ahead of myself. This is making want a drink!

So I tried locating a number for the OC, Temple Emergency Physicians and I cannot find a number! I have googled it. I have looked in the white pages, and nothing comes up. So I don't have any idea what to do.

Re: Medical Collections Question

let — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:11:19 GMT

Try this number : 1-800-474-8376. This is the number that the hospital gave me. It might the company that handles all ER doctors accounts. I think it's in Mansfield,Tx. If not they might know who you need to call. I just gave them my name and they located my account.

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:33:35 GMT

Great! Thanks, I will try that today and post what happened.

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:23:57 GMT

@fused wrote:
Call the original creditor, Temple Emergency Physicians, and ask what you owe and what it was for. Do not call the CA, Financial Control Services.

Fused,

I need your help. I finally got in touch with Temple Emergency Physicians (the OC) and verified that the amount owed matches the exact amount that the CA is billing me for. I called my insurance company and I do in fact owe this money.

What is my next step? Keep in mind, this is not yet being reported to the CRA, and when I offered to pay the OC they said that they could not accept payment because it was sent to collections. What do I need to do now? I have not yet contacted anyone at the CA. I just want to pay it and PREVENT this from being reported.

Re: Medical Collections Question

fused — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:44:39 GMT

You said you think this debt was the result of an ER visit, do you know the date you went?

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:54:01 GMT

Yes, the date of service was 7/3/08.

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:01:55 GMT

I have another question about a medical collection that is also not beyond the SOL (I live in TX).

I know that I owe it and can PIF, so how do I go about it? What letter do I need to send? Also, What about the restrictive endorsments? I ask about the restrictive endorsements, because both the OC's say they no longer own this debt. I asked them if the CA sends the money back to them, and she says no, they just report it back to the physicians? I don't get it. I just want to make sure that when I do pay it, it doesnt appear on my credit report as a paid collection now or in the future.

Re: Medical Collections Question

fused — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:03:16 GMT

When did you first hear from Financial Control Services? By phone or mail? Did the OC ever send you a final notice that if you didn't pay them, your account would be sent to a collector?

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:12:48 GMT

Thanks for responding so fast!

No, I NEVER heard from the OC. When I was on the phone verifying the amount and date of service so that I could have this info available when I contacted my insurance carrier, they verified that they had my correct address and stated that the sent out 3 letters before turning it over the collection agency.

I have only received ONE letter from the CA and that was dated 12/15/08. Up until just recently they have been calling over and over.

Re: Medical Collections Question

fused — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:21:13 GMT

You're in a tough spot. Since the CA is not reporting the collection, the HIPAA letter process doesn't apply. I would prefer you force the OC to accept payment and hope a paid collection doesn't show up on your reports. Is there any mentioning of reporting this debt to the CRAs in the letter the CA sent you? Or a threat to report if you don't pay up?

Re: Medical Collections Question

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:43:41 GMT

I don't know how I would go about forcing the OC to accept payment? Unless I just send the check without any letter with the restrictive endorsement on it and pray they cash it.

They didn't mention anything about reporting anything to the CRA's.

I really couldn't even send a PFD because they are not yet reporting and that leads me to another question....even if I do pay the CA - How could they still report it AFTER I paid it? I thought they COULDN'T report it because they no longer have a business purpose?