Initial Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2017/09/19) */
*** received an auto servo ventilation machine, mask, tubing and supplies and an oxygen concentrator from Key MedicalMedicare requires us to collect 20% coinsurance on all itemsDuring the first year *** completed a
financial hardship application which must be done with us annuallyThe hardship application was approved for one year*** called our office after the second year wondering why he still owed money since he had a hardshipHe was informed he would need to renew the hardship applicationHe did and we approved it again, lowering his coinsurance from 20% of allowed charges to 20$ per monthHe was informed he needed to make a payment in order to receive his CPAP suppliesHe agreed and made a paymentHe did not make any more payments and his balanced accrued to about $Later *** called and was very rude to our billing staff and was upset about having to pay anything and claimed he was told we would just accept what Medicare paidWe informed he we cannot do that due to our and his contract with Medicare but that we could reduce his payments to $which we didHe offered to settle the debt with $which was deniedWe offered to work out payment arrangements with him but he refused and said "Key will get a nickel on the dollar, he will not send monthly payments"After an appropriate amount of time of not making payments and several warnings and attempts to contact him, ***'s account was sent to collections since he clearly told us he refused to make paymentsWe do not have any notes in our system showing he requested us to pick up the equipment but if he had requested it, it would not have been a problem, but he would have been told that he either needs a prescription from his doctor for discontinued use or he would need to sign an Against Medical Advise form since it is considered life saving equipmentIf he spoke to someone in our office about that and was told that, unfortunately it was not documented but that could be why he perceived we did not want to pick it upI feel we tried to be fair with *** and did in fact discount his portion of the payments substantiallyUnfortunately, he was not kind to our office which made it more difficult to work with himIt is important to realize that Medicare does require us to collect from patientsWe jeopardize losing our contract with them and the patient risks losing their coverageWe were very willing to work out any type of payment arrangements with him but he was mad and spiteful instead of trying to work with usWe can't remove every account from collections because they get mad and complain about usWe need to be paid for the equipment we provide and as previously stated, are under obligation to do so
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 12, 2017/09/19) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Most of what they said is just not trueThe first year I had a hardship is when they said not to worry about paying anythingThe second year the sameIt was not until august of just months prior to the full years was up for Medicare payments that they contacted me and the reason I was upset was they told me then was I was supposed to be paying for the last a half years and I told them that is not what y'all told me originallyFurthermore why would you let someone get behind in there payments for over and half years and not try and collect because they knew I couldn't afford to pay them and they were satisfied taking Medicare payments that is why they would not pickup the equipment the first year when I told them I couldn't afford those payments and they could come and pick up equipment then but they refused to come get it because they wanted Medicare to pay them for the full years and that is why they waited so long to tell me I owed them And they know I told them when they told me I was going to owe all the back payments that I could not afford and I told them plainly I was not using the equipment they could come and pick it up because I was not using it and I couldn't afford to pay them per monthI WILL NOT PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I NEVER AGREED TO PAY FOR! This company refused to pickup the equipment the first year when I told them I could not afford any monthly payments for yearsI told them then and I told them the last time we spoke to come get the equipmentThe bottom line is Key Medical wanted to collect on Medicare for the full years and then try to bill me for years worth of paymentsI am disabled and on social securityI dispute this bill and refuse to pay it for all the reasons I listed above
Initial Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2017/09/19) */
*** received an auto servo ventilation machine, mask, tubing and supplies and an oxygen concentrator from Key MedicalMedicare requires us to collect 20% coinsurance on all itemsDuring the first year *** completed a
financial hardship application which must be done with us annuallyThe hardship application was approved for one year*** called our office after the second year wondering why he still owed money since he had a hardshipHe was informed he would need to renew the hardship applicationHe did and we approved it again, lowering his coinsurance from 20% of allowed charges to 20$ per monthHe was informed he needed to make a payment in order to receive his CPAP suppliesHe agreed and made a paymentHe did not make any more payments and his balanced accrued to about $Later *** called and was very rude to our billing staff and was upset about having to pay anything and claimed he was told we would just accept what Medicare paidWe informed he we cannot do that due to our and his contract with Medicare but that we could reduce his payments to $which we didHe offered to settle the debt with $which was deniedWe offered to work out payment arrangements with him but he refused and said "Key will get a nickel on the dollar, he will not send monthly payments"After an appropriate amount of time of not making payments and several warnings and attempts to contact him, ***'s account was sent to collections since he clearly told us he refused to make paymentsWe do not have any notes in our system showing he requested us to pick up the equipment but if he had requested it, it would not have been a problem, but he would have been told that he either needs a prescription from his doctor for discontinued use or he would need to sign an Against Medical Advise form since it is considered life saving equipmentIf he spoke to someone in our office about that and was told that, unfortunately it was not documented but that could be why he perceived we did not want to pick it upI feel we tried to be fair with *** and did in fact discount his portion of the payments substantiallyUnfortunately, he was not kind to our office which made it more difficult to work with himIt is important to realize that Medicare does require us to collect from patientsWe jeopardize losing our contract with them and the patient risks losing their coverageWe were very willing to work out any type of payment arrangements with him but he was mad and spiteful instead of trying to work with usWe can't remove every account from collections because they get mad and complain about usWe need to be paid for the equipment we provide and as previously stated, are under obligation to do so
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 12, 2017/09/19) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Most of what they said is just not trueThe first year I had a hardship is when they said not to worry about paying anythingThe second year the sameIt was not until august of just months prior to the full years was up for Medicare payments that they contacted me and the reason I was upset was they told me then was I was supposed to be paying for the last a half years and I told them that is not what y'all told me originallyFurthermore why would you let someone get behind in there payments for over and half years and not try and collect because they knew I couldn't afford to pay them and they were satisfied taking Medicare payments that is why they would not pickup the equipment the first year when I told them I couldn't afford those payments and they could come and pick up equipment then but they refused to come get it because they wanted Medicare to pay them for the full years and that is why they waited so long to tell me I owed them And they know I told them when they told me I was going to owe all the back payments that I could not afford and I told them plainly I was not using the equipment they could come and pick it up because I was not using it and I couldn't afford to pay them per monthI WILL NOT PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I NEVER AGREED TO PAY FOR! This company refused to pickup the equipment the first year when I told them I could not afford any monthly payments for yearsI told them then and I told them the last time we spoke to come get the equipmentThe bottom line is Key Medical wanted to collect on Medicare for the full years and then try to bill me for years worth of paymentsI am disabled and on social securityI dispute this bill and refuse to pay it for all the reasons I listed above