Altoona Lung Specialists

Issue” with Altoona Lung Specialists, we would request that you consider the following: [redacted] * [redacted] , MD Patient/Customer, [redacted] ***, was scheduled by her physician, Dr [redacted] , for a sleep study (not an appointment with a pulmonologist) in our clinic on December 15, Her physician assured our office at the time the appointment was scheduled that the patient was aware and would be present for the study on the date and time scheduled During the time period when patient was scheduled, our clinic was desperately trying to accommodate all patients requiring testing by the end of December prior to their insurance deductibles renewingAt this particular point in time, we had other patients waiting on a list to be scheduled in the event we had a cancellationOur clinic lost the income generated from a sleep study on this night due to patient, [redacted] ***, being a “no show” for the studyIt is our policy to bill any patient, who is a “no show” and does not cancel in advance, the amount of $to compensate for our clinic being over staffed and losing the income generated by the study Upon notifying Dr [redacted] ’s office that her patient did not arrive nor perform the sleep study scheduled by their office, we were instructed to bill the patient the standard “no show” fee as they advised the patient of the appointment and the “no show” fee I, personally, spoke to the patient, [redacted] ***, on Wednesday, March 12, at which time I offered her what I felt was a more than reasonable resolution to the situationI advised Ms [redacted] that if she would write a letter to her physician, Dr [redacted] , stating her position relative to their office scheduling this sleep study without notifying her of the date, time, and location of the sleep study, and provide a copy of the letter to our office, that I would “write off” the $bill, which would alleviate any possibility of this account going to a collection agency Contrary to Ms***’ statement that I indicated that “we are tired of my family doctor doing this to them” the purpose of the letter is to confirm that Ms***, in fact, was not informed by her physician of the appointment made on her behalf, and to provide us with documentation to utilize when addressing the situation with her physician’s office, as opposed to having a “he said/she said” type of situation The Revdex.com March 14, Our offer to resolve this issue in this fashion remains a viable option in the event that Ms [redacted] is willing to perform this simple taskThis will result in her Desired Settlement wherein she indicated “I want the bill removed and not sent to a collections agency as it would be a bad mark on my credit” I appreciate your consideration of the facts outlined in this correspondence when evaluating the Complaint of [redacted] *** Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any additional information or documentation Sincerely, [redacted] Practice Manager

[redacted] most certainly did make the statements that she is tired of my family doctor's office doing this  to them and she was very rude to me.  I spoke with [redacted] at Dr. [redacted]'s office and was told a letter will not help, and this is not their problem.  If [redacted] had offered to listen to my explanation instead of being rude and insisting that even though I had no notice of an appointment they were still billing me, I would not have been so upset but I am NOT paying their office the fee and if it goes on my credit record, I am prepared to take further action.  [redacted] did not attempt to help me at all and was extremely unprofessional in her behavior toward me.  Since there is absolutely no way for Altoona Lung Associates to verify 100% correctly that I got a phone call, I am not sure how they can determine that I did , in fact, receive a phone call.  I can assure you I did not because I would not have chosen to have this appointment, as I am not interested in a sleep study at this time.  If their office lost money in error, maybe they should take that up with Dr. [redacted]'s office, but I am in no way responsible for paying for an appointment I never knew I had.

Issue” with Altoona Lung Specialists, we would request that you consider the following:
[redacted],
MD Patient/Customer, [redacted], was scheduled by her physician, Dr. [redacted], for a...

sleep
study (not an appointment with a pulmonologist) in our clinic on December 15, 2013.
Her physician assured our office at the time the appointment was scheduled that the
patient was aware and would be present for the study on the date and time scheduled.
During the time period when patient was scheduled, our clinic was desperately trying to
accommodate all patients requiring testing by the end of December prior to their
insurance deductibles renewing. At this particular point in time, we had other patients
waiting on a list to be scheduled in the event we had a cancellation. Our clinic lost the
income generated from a sleep study on this night due to patient, [redacted], being a
“no show” for the study. It is our policy to bill any patient, who is a “no show” and does
not cancel in advance, the amount of $200 to compensate for our clinic being over
staffed and losing the income generated by the study.
Upon notifying Dr. [redacted]’s office that her patient did not arrive nor perform the sleep
study scheduled by their office, we were instructed to bill the patient the standard “no
show” fee as they advised the patient of the appointment and the “no show” fee.
I, personally, spoke to the patient, [redacted], on Wednesday, March 12, 2013 at which
time I offered her what I felt was a more than reasonable resolution to the situation. I
advised Ms. [redacted] that if she would write a letter to her physician, Dr. [redacted], stating her
position relative to their office scheduling this sleep study without notifying her of the
date, time, and location of the sleep study, and provide a copy of the letter to our office,
that I would “write off” the $200 bill, which would alleviate any possibility of this
account going to a collection agency.
Contrary to Ms. [redacted]’ statement that I indicated that “we are tired of my family doctor
doing this to them” the purpose of the letter is to confirm that Ms. [redacted], in fact, was not
informed by her physician of the appointment made on her behalf, and to provide us
with documentation to utilize when addressing the situation with her physician’s office,
as opposed to having a “he said/she said” type of situation.
The Revdex.com
 
March 14, 2014
Our offer to resolve this issue in this fashion remains a viable option in the event that
Ms. [redacted] is willing to perform this simple task. This will result in her Desired Settlement
wherein she indicated “I want the bill removed and not sent to a collections agency as it
would be a bad mark on my credit”.
I appreciate your consideration of the facts outlined in this correspondence when
evaluating the Complaint of [redacted].
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any additional information or
documentation.
Sincerely,
 
[redacted]
Practice Manager

Review: I am being billed for an appointment that I did not know I had and never scheduled. I was told it was scheduled by my primary care physician, but I was never notified and did not want an appointment with a pulmonologist. After calling their office for 2 months I finally talked to [redacted], their business manager, today and was told they are going to send the bill to a collections agency and punish me for the missed appointment because they are tired of my family doctor doing this to them. I do not see how this makes me responsible for a bill that is $200.Desired Settlement: I want the bill removed and not sent to a collections agency as it would be a bad mark on my credit.

Business

Response:

Issue” with Altoona Lung Specialists, we would request that you consider the following:

[redacted]. [redacted],

MD Patient/Customer, [redacted], was scheduled by her physician, Dr. [redacted], for a sleep

study (not an appointment with a pulmonologist) in our clinic on December 15, 2013.

Her physician assured our office at the time the appointment was scheduled that the

patient was aware and would be present for the study on the date and time scheduled.

During the time period when patient was scheduled, our clinic was desperately trying to

accommodate all patients requiring testing by the end of December prior to their

insurance deductibles renewing. At this particular point in time, we had other patients

waiting on a list to be scheduled in the event we had a cancellation. Our clinic lost the

income generated from a sleep study on this night due to patient, [redacted], being a

“no show” for the study. It is our policy to bill any patient, who is a “no show” and does

not cancel in advance, the amount of $200 to compensate for our clinic being over

staffed and losing the income generated by the study.

Upon notifying Dr. [redacted]’s office that her patient did not arrive nor perform the sleep

study scheduled by their office, we were instructed to bill the patient the standard “no

show” fee as they advised the patient of the appointment and the “no show” fee.

I, personally, spoke to the patient, [redacted], on Wednesday, March 12, 2013 at which

time I offered her what I felt was a more than reasonable resolution to the situation. I

advised Ms. [redacted] that if she would write a letter to her physician, Dr. [redacted], stating her

position relative to their office scheduling this sleep study without notifying her of the

date, time, and location of the sleep study, and provide a copy of the letter to our office,

that I would “write off” the $200 bill, which would alleviate any possibility of this

account going to a collection agency.

Contrary to Ms. [redacted]’ statement that I indicated that “we are tired of my family doctor

doing this to them” the purpose of the letter is to confirm that Ms. [redacted], in fact, was not

informed by her physician of the appointment made on her behalf, and to provide us

with documentation to utilize when addressing the situation with her physician’s office,

as opposed to having a “he said/she said” type of situation.

The Revdex.com

March 14, 2014

Our offer to resolve this issue in this fashion remains a viable option in the event that

Ms. [redacted] is willing to perform this simple task. This will result in her Desired Settlement

wherein she indicated “I want the bill removed and not sent to a collections agency as it

would be a bad mark on my credit”.

I appreciate your consideration of the facts outlined in this correspondence when

evaluating the Complaint of [redacted].

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any additional information or

documentation.

Sincerely,

Practice Manager

Consumer

Response:

[redacted] most certainly did make the statements that she is tired of my family doctor's office doing this to them and she was very rude to me. I spoke with [redacted] at Dr. [redacted]'s office and was told a letter will not help, and this is not their problem. If [redacted] had offered to listen to my explanation instead of being rude and insisting that even though I had no notice of an appointment they were still billing me, I would not have been so upset but I am NOT paying their office the fee and if it goes on my credit record, I am prepared to take further action. [redacted] did not attempt to help me at all and was extremely unprofessional in her behavior toward me. Since there is absolutely no way for Altoona Lung Associates to verify 100% correctly that I got a phone call, I am not sure how they can determine that I did , in fact, receive a phone call. I can assure you I did not because I would not have chosen to have this appointment, as I am not interested in a sleep study at this time. If their office lost money in error, maybe they should take that up with Dr. [redacted]'s office, but I am in no way responsible for paying for an appointment I never knew I had.