An Elegant Smile Dentistry

Patient [redacted] did have oral surgery on 10.30.12 and paid the estimated patient portion of $726.00.  Patients insurance paid on 12.03.12 and per patient's insurance, patient's portion was $886.00 leaving a $160.00 balance.  Multiple attempts to collect balance were made with...

teleumphone calls and statements sent.  We have patient notes showing patient was aware of balance due and was to set up payment arrangements but never followed through or paid balance.  Account was sent to collection August 2013.  The difference of the balance on ledger of $160.00 and the portion patient is disputing of $210.00 is the collection fees added to patient balance.  Attached is patient ledger, notes and journal reflecting all collection attempts.[redacted]Accounting AdministratorAn Elegant Smile Dentistry

Front desk is so unprofessional we had to leave. Front desk wanted me to sign consent forms for fillings, but daughter was there for 2 extractions (baby teeth). Then front desk lady cursed in front of my daughter. Office manager insisted on payment up front (we have always paid after treatments the past 3 years) after front desk said they would collect afterwards. Office Manager denied her staff cursed in front of my daughter, yet apologized. Office staff who cursed in front of my daughter refused to apologize. Office Manager told me the customer generally is never right and that she and her staff knew their jobs.
Dentist had not bothered to secure a newer referral from the orthodontist once we were in the room even though this appointment had been booked for many months. Office staff told me extractions were not done on Fridays. Dentist told me another dentist would do extractions on Fridays. Office Manager told me they don't do extractions at all, but did so for us because we requested it. Daughter's regular dentist, who is no longer there, discussed with us the procedure/gas/no /gas/pain level for extractions in August.
We ended up not having the procedure done because my daughter was so up set by the Office Manager and staff member. On the way out the Office Manager turned to my daughter and said something to the effect of "Your Mom is not setting a good example for you." My daughter left in tears.
Way to go Elegant Smile in making sure a child wants to see the dentist as a valued health provider because kids love going to the dentist!
Looking for a new dentist for the entire family!

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID[redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.You have not provided proof of the expense to explain why I was charged extra 

Regards,[redacted]

Response to [redacted] Complaint [redacted] – [redacted]

1) An Elegant Smile has always billed**. [redacted] at the “allowable” amount based upon our contract with [redacted].  Note that**. [redacted] has two [redacted]s.  The primary is [redacted].  The...

secondary is [redacted], which [redacted] has billed on his own in the past without notifying An Elegant Smile Dentistry until after the fact.

 

2) We bill**. [redacted] based upon our contracted rate with [redacted].

 

3) It is our company policy to have the account current in order to receive future services.

 

4) Since a dental implant is an uncovered benefit with [redacted], we are in fact to receive payment prior to service.

[redacted] owes An Elegant Smile a balance of $883.10.  No credit is due.

We spoke with [redacted] and explained in detail our charges and billing procedures and patient understood.

An Elegant Smile Dentistry

 [redacted] owes An Elegant Smile a balance of

$883.10.  No credit is due.

Due to HIPPAA and Privacy Laws I am unable to comment on the complaint.  It would be a violation of several federal laws to which I do not want to break.  Shame on Revdex.com for asking me to break the law.[redacted]

Patients are presented with treatment plans that are simply estimates.  They are not final determinations of what will be owed.  The insurance that the patient purchases is a contract between them and the insurance company.  As a dental office, we are simply contracted to accept that...

insurance as both a form of payment and a reduced reimbursement rate from our full usual customary fees.  In this specific instance, the patient was presented with a treatment plan that is simply an estimate.  At the patient's request, the are able to obtain a copy of this from the office.  The insurance company's payment was less than estimated, to which the patient has a contract with the insurance company.  If the patient has a dispute with the amount paid by insurance, they should take that up with insurance as we are not involved with that part of the contract.  Based upon our contract with the insurance company and the signed treatment plan estimate with the patient as well their signed financial responsibility form , the $20 owed is accurate and legitimate.

Due to HIPPAA regulations this would not be the appropriate forum to comment on any particular patient's specific treatment.  Please contact the office directly for details on your specific account.

Again-due to federal law I cannot respond to the original post sent to me by Revdex.com.[redacted]

Went into Elegant Smile for the first time to begin some dental treatment. The ran my insurance and gave me a list of the payments I would be making. I aggreed and made all of those payment between the three visits. A few months later I received a bill from them telling me that my insurance did not cover those procedures. I was told at the first visit that my insurance was great and I would only be paying what they told me that day. Now I am stuck with a bill of $650 because they gave me wrong information. If I knew that this would end up costing me another $650 on top of what I already had paid ($350) I would not have gone through with any of it. Now I have no option but to pay them the money or it will go against my credit. All because the secretary gave me the wrong information.

I have reviewed the response...

made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.I am not surprised by their response, however nothing has been resolved, I will pursue further action as previously detailed. I am sure many others have been scammed by their unethical business practices and lack of appropriate medical charting. 

Regards,