Skipping a step in HIPAA process??

[Anonymous]

I have a $64 medical bill that is in collections on my credit report.  I know that it has not been paid (I asked the hospital to bill me after a trip to the emergency room but they NEVER billed me (?)  they just sent it to collections!!)

Being that I know that I owe this money, would it be ok to skip steps 1-3 in the letter process and just send the HIPAA letter to OC with insert A?

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

I would PIF the hospital using the restrictive endorsment.........wait untill you know that the check was cashed and then start with step 1.    pre-hipaa letter

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU

[Anonymous]

Dear HappyDays,

I have a similar situation as 850 dreams.  A collection in the amount of $57 posted to my CR without any prior notice by the CA.  I researched my Insurance claims and found that it was for a medical procedure performed in 10/7.  I never received a bill from OC so I contacted them and requested a copy of statement.  They said that the original had been returned due to incorrect address.  When I asked if there were any other outstanding amounts, they said there were 2 more charges totalling $62.  I have confirmed that I do owe these amounts.  I wish to get this matter resolved asap since the CO is making it difficult to negotiate lower APRs and balance transfers on my credit cards.  I planned on sending the HIPAA Letter with full payment.  I was researching "Restrictive Endorsement" to see if that was necessary and came across this thread.  

Why do you recommend starting with the pre-HIPAA letter?  Isn't that basically DV?  

Thanks for your help!  

[Anonymous]

HappyDays and/or Fused:

If I PIF to OC, can I send a personal check with restrictive endorsement?  Personal checks clear a lot faster these days and you can get the actual check returned to you as proof.  (I'm not sure how you have proof when you send a cashier's check after it is deposited..??) 

Since the pre-HIPAA letter disputes the account, I'm not sure about sending it.  I am not disputing that I owe - but I am disputing that CA is reporting it without ever contacting me.  Isn't the HIPAA Letter to the OC with payment sufficient enough to get the collection removed or is it necessary to contact the CRA to dispute first.  I have no doubt that they will validate the debt but don't want to screw up.  Perhaps the pre-HIPAA lays the necessary groundwork in case there is a problem getting CO removed by OC or CA ...????

I hope I'm not being difficult.  I just need to know if it's a necessary step in my situation and why.  Hopefully, it will also help others in similar circumstances.  

Thanks much!! 

[scottie_mommy]

I personally would not send a personal check.

If you send an official check there is usually a duplicate that you keep and you can get proof of the check getting paid out from the company that issued the check.

[happy0510]

I am going to chime in here since I have the SAME situation.  $35 collection.  Have you tried a PFD yet?

[Anonymous]

No the pre-hipaa letter is nothing like a DV, it is a dispute! A DV letter is never sent to the CRAs!

By sending the pre-hipaa letter to the CRAs you start a paper trail. If the debt was paid and you follow the process (and use the color or handwrite) the dispute, You stand a good chance of having it deleted and you are done.

You do not contact the CA!!

[Anonymous]

happy0510, You do not send a PFD for medical collections!!!  You have no contact with the CA reporting!