Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center LLC

Complaint: [redacted] I am rejecting this response because: Please see attached rebuttal for more detailIn summary Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center has made no attempt to address my complaintsThey continue to assert that I owe them the total amount they billed and threatened to send me to collections if I did not pay in full by 8/28/In order to avoid collections I have paid the bills and am now revising my resolution requestPreviously I asked for the bills to be reduced by 50% and now I am asking for a full refundAs I have researched their company more I am even more certain they have fraudulent practices and I hope to protect any future people with sleep disorders from having to deal with them.Thank you for your time and thoughtful attention to this matter.Sincerely, [redacted] Rebuttal to Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center response to the Revdex.com: Nothing in the response provided to Revdex.com by Bel-­Red Sleep Diagnostic Center (BRSDC) in any way contradicts or rebuts the complaint I submittedOn the contrary, their response corroborates my contention that they engage in unethical and probably fraudulent practices The response from BRSDC to the Revdex.com is signed: “David [redacted] I***, MD, CEO.” The BRSDC website describes David I [redacted] as their “Managing Director.” Anyone using the title MD after their name in a healthcare setting is clearly claiming that he/she is a licensed practitioner competent to diagnose and treat illnessPosing as a licensed physician without the requisite training, certification and licensing is certainly fraudulent and is illegal in the state of WashingtonThe State of Washington Revised Code (18.71.011) says: A person is practicing medicine if he or she does one or more of the following: Uses on cards, books, papers, signs, or other written or printed means of giving information to the public, in the conduct of any occupation or profession pertaining to the diagnosis or treatment of human disease or conditions the designation "doctor of medicine," "physician," "surgeon," "m.d.," or any combination thereofAdditionally, RCW states: “No person may practice or represent himself or herself as practicing medicine without first having a valid license to do so.” A further instance of this fraudulent misrepresentation occurred w [redacted] I called BRSDC to complain about DrC [redacted] lack of professionalism and ask for a reduction in the billed costI was referred to the “Office Manager,” David I***David said that he could not reduce the cost but that he would personally re-­-do and interpret a new sleep test so I would not have to deal with DrC [redacted] againThe interpretation of sleep test results is a form of diagnosis, which can only be performed by a licensed and certified physicianOn my first visit to BRSDC there was no effort by any of their staff to disclose the costs involved in the sleep test or possible subsequent treatment, despite the fact that their website specifically says: “We at Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center work with most insurance companies and will verify all costs with you prior to scheduling your sleep study.” The sleep test device DrC [redacted] sent me home with was defectiveThe device did not work at all until I put in my own new batteries, and even then it did not record an adequate amount of timeThe first night it recorded for hours; the second night, for less than hoursThe American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines recommend a sleep study length of at least hoursDavid I***’s Revdex.com response letter says that “she should have been billed for eight hundred dollars ($800) from Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center for the technical component of her home sleep test.” In fact, I should not have been billed at all for the use of a malfunctioning deviceOn my second visit to BRSDC, DrC [redacted] either could not or would not clearly explain the test results so that I could understand the severity of my sleep apneaDespite my repeated requests for explanation, he simply said: “You have sleep apnea.” The following quote from BRSDC’s response letter to the Revdex.com then describes the process as it should have happened: “Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center are affiliated with several durable medical equipment companies (DME) that our individual patient can choose which company that they are qualified by their insurance and DrStanley C [redacted] will write the prescription needed and send to the DME company that the individual patient choice.” In other words, DrC [redacted] should have explained the test results, discussed my treatment options, and then written me a prescription that I could take to the DME provider of my choiceThis is in stark contrast to what actually happenedInstead DrC [redacted] immediately tried to sell me a CPAP machine without explaining costs or equipment optionsHe became agitated when it was obvious that I would leave his office without purchasing a machineAs I started to leave, he shouted: “You have sleep apnea! You need a machine! Sleep apnea won’t go away!” Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center is in violation of the Stark lawAs a Medicare provider, DrC [redacted] is specifically prohibited from referring a patient to a DME (Durable Medical Equipment) provider in which he has a financial interestHe attempts to circumvent the law by pretending that when he sells CPAP equipment he is acting as a separate entity under the name Sleep & Health MedicineIn reality, the two entities are one and the same, separated only by their namesHe is listed on their website as the Medical Director of BRSDC, and the Revdex.com letter from David I [redacted] says: “he has right to bill all of his professional components under by his company [redacted] .” Both BRSDC and [redacted] operate out of the same office and have the same staff and phone numbersBRSDC’s written response to the Revdex.com continually refers to the deductible portion of my insurance coverageThis is an attempt to cloud the issue and to avoid addressing the relevant points in my complaintThe insurance coverage was never a point of discussion or contention, and I clearly understood that, since my annual deductible had not yet been met, I would incur some out-­-of-­- pocket costThe issue is that those cost were never disclosedOther issues which raise questions about BRSDC competence are: aCommunications from BRSDC are not dated, raising the question of whether this is a practice designed to make it difficult to document the sequence of events in any disputed transaction such as thisbThe insurance claim forms uploaded as part of the BRSDC response appear to have been tampered withThe amount owed is highlighted, but the payment status boxes are all whited outcThe response letter to the Revdex.com says that on 6/15/“ [redacted] uses our data report of Mrs [redacted] and determined that she had a moderate sleep apneaThe [redacted] sleep specialist writes her a prescription to use the CPAP device .” This is incorrectDr [redacted] at [redacted] did a thorough examination and was concerned by the length of time that had gone by since I began seeking help for my sleep issuesHe wrote me a prescription for CPAP and gave me a list of CPAP providers in the Seattle area on 6/04/d [redacted] did request all tests/notes from BRSDC to complete my file and to show a complete record of my activities to insuranceWhen they received the requested sleep test form from BRSDC it was not signedThey then requested a signed copy of the test form, and upon receipt of it they had to make another request for a copy of the accompanying notes, which BRSDC had neglected to sendeThe letter from BRSDC to Dr [redacted] , my primary care provider, is signed by DrStanley C***The sleep test result form later provided at the request of [redacted] is also signed by DrStanley C***, but the signatures are very different, raising questions about whether someone is “standing in” for DrC [redacted] who is not a qualified physicianFurther evidence of their lack of professionalism is the fact that of the twenty-­-one sleep medicine centers listed in the Bellevue area, BRSDC is the only one that is not accredited by the American Academy of Sleep MedicineI made a good-­-faith effort to resolve this issue when I first received the BRSDC billing, but their responses, both by phone and e-­-mail, were confusing and contradictoryIn summary, I left BRSDC without a clear understanding of my sleep test results, with no idea of what costs might be involved should I elect to begin CPAP therapy, and without a prescriptionI found the entire process to be confusing, frustrating, demeaning, and coerciveBecause of my experience at BSRDC, I was forced to begin the diagnosis and treatment process all over again, at additional expense to myselfI contacted a legitimate provider, [redacted] ***, where I received professional care, with full cost disclosure up front, and am currently using CPAP therapyBecause of BRSDC’s continued refusal to resolve this issue and negotiate a reduction in the total cost billed and their threat to send the bill to collections if not paid by August 28th, I paid the full amounts in order to avoid the collections processWhen I did so however, I made it clear to them that I was in no way acknowledging the validity of their claim for payment and that I do and will continue to dispute it

Patient Name: *** *** Date of Service: 04-03-Date of Birth: 12-08-Referring Physician: DrJoy S*** Mrs*** ***, a year old female reported to our facility Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center for a sleep consults with our medical director DrStanley C***She
spent for over minutes consultation with DrStanley C*** and she agreed to take the in home sleep test (HST) for consecutive nights in her habitual sleep at homeOn this day 04/03/the insurance *** policy of Mrs*** *** under by her husband, *** *** was verified and showed that she had a deductible of two thousand six hundred seventy and fifty one cents ($2,670.51)In this case if the insured member had this amount of the deductible, the insurance will not pay any single cents unless the deductible is metThe medical assistant explained thoroughly the home sleep test how is the HST device works and it was explained to her to use it properly to record the data properlyThe medical assistant asked for Mrs*** *** and her husband if there are any other questions regarding the procedure of the test and they both replied no further questionsThey did not even ask about the cost of the test and the consultation with DrStanley C***In our practice if someone asks the cost of the procedure, we thoroughly explained the cost and what is the insurance will pay and patient responsibilityShe took the in home sleep test (HST) device on the same day 04/03/and also advice to use the HST device on this night and his insurance to be billed for nights on the date that she took the HST deviceThe insurance was billed under by Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center for the technical component on 04/03/and 04/04/Our billing charges to *** for this procedure code is $ and our contracted amount to *** is $ per one night home sleep testMrs*** *** had done nights home sleep test and she should have a billed for eight hundred dollars ($ 800.00) from Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center for the technical component of her home sleep test (HST)Mrs*** ***, had a big deductible of $ 2,and her insurance did not pay Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center because of her deductible was not met during this home sleep test procedure and consultation with DrStanley C***, she is fully responsible for all the charges that was billed to her insurance and she can contact her insurance to verify all the chargesBel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center gives a discounted amount of $ to Mrs*** *** for one of her home sleep tests and she only owed a bill to Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center for the amount of $ dollarsDrStanley C***, is a board certified sleep specialist and he is the medical director of Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic CenterHe is the independent contractor member of the Bel- Red Sleep Diagnostic and he has right to bill all of his professional components under by his company Sleep & Health MedicineMrs*** ***, owed *** * *** *** of the amount charges four hundred ninety seven and cents ($ 497.11), and all these charges are for all the professional components by DrStanley C*** as a medical director of Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic CenterBel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center are affiliated with several durable medical equipment companies (DME) that our individual patient can choose which company that they are qualified by their insurance and DrStanley C*** will write the prescription needed and send to the DME company that the individual patient choiceOn 06/15/2015, Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center received a request from *** *** *** of Mrs*** *** home sleep test report and it was sent the same day via fax to *** *** *** *** *** uses our data report of Mrs*** *** and determined that she had a moderate sleep apnea with overall AHI 18/hr associated with hypoxemia at the lowest oxygen saturation of 86% during sleep*** *** *** *** sleep specialist writes her a prescription to use the CPAP device to treat her obstructive sleep apneaOn 06/16/2015, Bel-Red sleep Diagnostic Center received a request from the office of *** *** *** the DME company of Mrs*** *** home sleep test report and clinical notes and it was sent the same day via fax to the DME company *** *** ***The DME company *** *** *** uses our data report and clinical notes of Mrs*** *** and determined that she had a moderate sleep apnea with overall AHI 18/hr associated with hypoxemia at the lowest oxygen saturation of 86% during sleep*** *** *** *** sleep specialist writes her a prescription and sent to the DME company *** *** *** to use the CPAP device to treat her obstructive sleep apneaNow at this time Mrs*** *** is under care by *** *** *** for all of her sleep related issuesOur clinical supervisor Brieanne P***, continued working with Mrs*** *** *** regarding this matter and what is her balance amount to pay as she was over past due for her account since the service was rendered on the month of April Mrs*** ***, had a past due account to *** * *** *** with the amount of four hundred ninety seven and eleven cents ($497.11)And she also had a past due amount of four hundred dollars ($400.00) to Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic CenterAttached all the documents regarding this complaint with complaint # *** and it was a complaint made by Mrs*** ***, today’s date 08/20/at the time 10:amAs a member and accredited by the Revdex.com (Revdex.com), Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center is here to serve in the whole entire Puget Sound with our goal to serve with excellent patient careIf you have any further questions regarding this response, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at this direct number*** ***
***SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS REDACTED BY Revdex.com***

My father had the terrible experience at this place He went to see his family doctor for prostatitis symptoms Somehow got referred to this sleep centerIn the first office visit, he was asked to wear a device overnightIn the 2nd visit, we were told no results were recorded by the device, and decided not to continue with this clinic Later we received bills for around $ $for renting that small radio size device over night $for the 2nd visit that lasted merely min They agreed to waive portion of the charges after hearing my complaint But they managed to get most of the money from insurance

Complaint: [redacted]I am rejecting this response because: Please see attached rebuttal for more detail. In summary Bel-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center has made no attempt to address my complaints. They continue to assert that I owe them the total amount they billed and threatened to send me to collections if I did not pay in full by 8/28/15. In order to avoid collections I have paid the bills and am now revising my resolution request. Previously I asked for the bills to be reduced by 50% and now I am asking for a full refund. As I have researched their company more I am even more certain they have fraudulent practices and I hope to protect any future people with sleep disorders from having to deal with them.Thank you for your time and thoughtful attention to this matter.Sincerely,[redacted]
Rebuttal to Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center response to the Revdex.com: Nothing in the response provided to Revdex.com by Bel-­Red Sleep Diagnostic Center (BRSDC) in any way contradicts or rebuts the complaint I submitted. On the contrary, their response corroborates my contention that they engage in unethical and probably fraudulent practices.
1. The response from BRSDC to the Revdex.com is signed: “David ** I[redacted], MD, CEO.” The BRSDC website describes David I[redacted] as their “Managing Director.” Anyone using the title MD after their name in a healthcare setting is clearly claiming that he/she is a licensed practitioner competent to diagnose and treat illness. Posing as a licensed physician without the requisite training, certification and licensing is certainly fraudulent and is illegal in the state of Washington. The State of Washington Revised Code (18.71.011) says: A person is practicing medicine if he or she does one or more of the following: Uses on cards, books, papers, signs, or other written or printed means of giving information to the public, in the conduct of any occupation or profession pertaining to the diagnosis or treatment of human disease or conditions the designation "doctor of medicine," "physician," "surgeon," "m.d.," or any combination thereof. Additionally, RCW 18.71.021 states: “No person may practice or represent himself or herself as practicing medicine without first having a valid license to do so.” A further instance of this fraudulent misrepresentation occurred w[redacted] I called BRSDC to complain about Dr. C[redacted] lack of professionalism and ask for a reduction in the billed cost. I was referred to the “Office Manager,” David I[redacted]. David said that he could not reduce the cost but that he would personally re-­-do and interpret a new sleep test so I would not have to deal with Dr. C[redacted] again. The interpretation of sleep test results is a form of diagnosis, which can only be performed by a licensed and certified physician. 2. On my first visit to BRSDC there was no effort by any of their staff to disclose the costs involved in the sleep test or possible subsequent treatment, despite the fact that their website specifically says: “We at Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center work with most insurance companies and will verify all costs with you prior to scheduling your sleep study.” 3. The sleep test device Dr. C[redacted] sent me home with was defective. The device did not work at all until I put in my own new batteries, and even then it did not record an adequate amount of time. The first night it recorded for 2 hours; the second night, for less than 4 hours. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine guidelines recommend a sleep study length of at least 6 hours. David I[redacted]’s Revdex.com response letter says that “she should have been billed for eight hundred dollars ($800) from Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center for the technical component of her home sleep test.” In fact, I should not have been billed at all for the use of a malfunctioning device. 4. On my second visit to BRSDC, Dr. C[redacted] either could not or would not clearly explain the test results so that I could understand the severity of my sleep apnea. Despite my repeated requests for explanation, he simply said: “You have sleep apnea.” The following quote from BRSDC’s response letter to the Revdex.com then describes the process as it should have happened: “Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center are affiliated with several durable medical equipment companies (DME) that our individual patient can choose which company that they are qualified by their insurance and Dr. Stanley C[redacted] will write the prescription needed and send to the DME company that the individual patient choice.” In other words, Dr. C[redacted] should have explained the test results, discussed my treatment options, and then written me a prescription that I could take to the DME provider of my choice. This is in stark contrast to what actually happened. Instead Dr. C[redacted] immediately tried to sell me a CPAP machine without explaining costs or equipment options. He became agitated when it was obvious that I would leave his office without purchasing a machine. As I started to leave, he shouted: “You have sleep apnea! You need a machine! Sleep apnea won’t go away!” 5. Bel-­-Red Sleep Diagnostic Center is in violation of the Stark law. As a Medicare provider, Dr. C[redacted] is specifically prohibited from referring a patient to a DME (Durable Medical Equipment) provider in which he has a financial interest. He attempts to circumvent the law by pretending that when he sells CPAP equipment he is acting as a separate entity under the name Sleep & Health Medicine. In reality, the two entities are one and the same, separated only by their names. He is listed on their website as the Medical Director of BRSDC, and the Revdex.com letter from David I[redacted] says: “he has right to bill all of his professional components under by his company [redacted].” Both BRSDC and [redacted] operate out of the same office and have the same staff and phone numbers. 6. BRSDC’s written response to the Revdex.com continually refers to the deductible portion of my insurance coverage. This is an attempt to cloud the issue and to avoid addressing the relevant points in my complaint. The insurance coverage was never a point of discussion or contention, and I clearly understood that, since my annual deductible had not yet been met, I would incur some out-­-of-­- pocket cost. The issue is that those cost were never disclosed. 7. Other issues which raise questions about BRSDC competence are: a. Communications from BRSDC are not dated, raising the question of whether this is a practice designed to make it difficult to document the sequence of events in any disputed transaction such as this. b. The insurance claim forms uploaded as part of the BRSDC response appear to have been tampered with. The amount owed is highlighted, but the payment status boxes are all whited out. c. The response letter to the Revdex.com says that on 6/15/2015 “[redacted] uses our data report of Mrs. [redacted] and determined that she had a moderate sleep apnea. The [redacted] sleep specialist writes her a prescription to use the CPAP device….” This is incorrect. Dr. [redacted] at [redacted] did a thorough examination and was concerned by the length of time that had gone by since I began seeking help for my sleep issues. He wrote me a prescription for CPAP and gave me a list of CPAP providers in the Seattle area on 6/04/2015. d. [redacted] did request all tests/notes from BRSDC to complete my file and to show a complete record of my activities to insurance. When they received the requested sleep test form from BRSDC it was not signed. They then requested a signed copy of the test form, and upon receipt of it they had to make another request for a copy of the accompanying notes, which BRSDC had neglected to send. e. The letter from BRSDC to Dr. [redacted], my primary care provider, is signed by Dr. Stanley C[redacted]. The sleep test result form later provided at the request of [redacted] is also signed by Dr. Stanley C[redacted], but the signatures are very different, raising questions about whether someone is “standing in” for Dr. C[redacted] who is not a qualified physician. 8. Further evidence of their lack of professionalism is the fact that of the twenty-­-one sleep medicine centers listed in the Bellevue area, BRSDC is the only one that is not accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. 9. I made a good-­-faith effort to resolve this issue when I first received the BRSDC billing, but their responses, both by phone and e-­-mail, were confusing and contradictory. In summary, I left BRSDC without a clear understanding of my sleep test results, with no idea of what costs might be involved should I elect to begin CPAP therapy, and without a prescription. I found the entire process to be confusing, frustrating, demeaning, and coercive. Because of my experience at BSRDC, I was forced to begin the diagnosis and treatment process all over again, at additional expense to myself. I contacted a legitimate provider, [redacted], where I received professional care, with full cost disclosure up front, and am currently using CPAP therapy. Because of BRSDC’s continued refusal to resolve this issue and negotiate a reduction in the total cost billed and their threat to send the bill to collections if not paid by August 28th, I paid the full amounts in order to avoid the collections process. When I did so however, I made it clear to them that I was in no way acknowledging the validity of their claim for payment and that I do and will continue to dispute it.