Allegheny Medical Healing Center

Review: I visited Allegheny Medical for the first time for a routine visit and to get one, routine, yearly test done. The appointment went fine and the necessary sample was taken for the test. I waited several weeks and never got a call with the test results, even after calling them and asking for the results. I then got a bill in the mail from a third party testing facility listing many tests other than the one I requested. It turns out that the physician ran a bunch of unnecessary tests without informing me and without my consent. These tests totaled over $1000, and even though insurance paid some of it, I still have a large bill to pay. After contacting Allegheny by phone and visiting in person to explain the mix up, the employees at Allegheny Medical still refused to pay the bill even though it was clearly their error. They kept saying that because I was showing certain symptoms, the physician had to run the extra tests. However, this is not true. The physician did not mention any symptoms I was showing (again, I just went in for a routine yearly test that is covered by insurance) and she never discussed with me any extra tests that she was going to run. Now I'm responsible for a bill covering tests that I did not consent to. And, because I owe the money to a third party business and not to Allegheny Medical itself, I cannot refuse to pay.Desired Settlement: I would like Allegheny Medical to pay the amount that I still owe to the third party testing facility for the tests, ordered by Allegheny Medical, that I did not request or consent to.

Business

Response:

Thank you for notifying me re: the patient complaint from [redacted]. I would like to clarify certainstatements made by Ms. [redacted]:1. She did visit our office for a routine annual exam2. According to the thorough documentation by the provider who examined her she complained ofsymptoms that required certain testing entirely related to the reason for her visit3. The specimens were sent to an outside laboratory, as all of our testing are, and the results of thetesting were called to Ms. [redacted] on 2 occasions: 4/28/16(Voice mail), 5/3/16- test confirmed asnegative. Our provider talked to her on 6/2/16 regarding the necessity of her treatment and thecharges associated with it.4. The cost of the testing is billed by the laboratory to the patient’s insurance. We do not collectany payments for testing from insurance companies We do have an agreement with them whichhas significantly reduced costs for our patients.5. Our patients sign an agreement for payment at the time of each visit which Ms. [redacted] did at thetime of her visit.6. Ms [redacted] has a deductible with her insurance company which she apparently has not yet met. Itis her responsibility to be aware of her deductible and how much has been applied over thebenefit period.We have sincerely given Ms. [redacted] very appropriate care based on her symptoms. We do not feel wehave an obligation to assume the cost of her deductible. Please let us know if the complaint andresponse will be posted on the Revdex.com Web Site.Thank you for your consideration in this matter. If you have any further concerns, please do not hesitateto call me.

Consumer

Response:

I would like to respond to several of the points made by Dr. Neil F[redacted] and I will respond using his numbers to avoid confusion. I would also like to point out that Dr. F[redacted] was not the physician that I saw during my routine exam, nor have I ever talked to or heard of him before. I would think that, in a situation like this, it would be most appropriate for someone that I actually came into contact with at the business and who is familiar with my complaint to be the one to answer.