Medical Collections Question

[Anonymous]

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!

[fused]

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.

[Anonymous]

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! 

[let]

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??

[Anonymous]

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)

[Anonymous]

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

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

[fused]

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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.

[let]

thanks, just making sure!!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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@fused wrote:

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@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.

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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.