Cascade Surgery Associates, P.L.L.C.

On January 21, 2013 I saw [redacted] after being referred to him by my primary care physician for extreme lower back pain. At the start of the visit, [redacted] expressed his confusion that my MRI showed and extra vertebrae, yet my written chart did not state anything about it. He then went on to ask if I had a radiologist or neuro-surgeon at [redacted], as they had already "reviewed" my MRI. I have never been to [redacted] and told him so. He then proceeded to discuss the "mass" growing on my spinal cord and that I should follow-up with the said Doctors at [redacted]. He was surprised that I was just being told about this unknown growth, and I was secretly about ready to cry with the news. He proceeds to "examine" my back with the focus being on the area with the alleged mass. After the exam he tells me to make an appointment with the other Doctors. SO now I have been told that I have a mass growing on my back and that he basically does not know why I am speaking with him instead of the attending radiologist. At the end of the "consult" as we are all (there was another female Dr. present)walking out into the hallway, he hands me my medical report and I look down at the name and birthday and say, "This is NOT me!" The patient on the paperwork was a [redacted] born in 1959 (or something very close to that)and I am a [redacted] born in 1969. I then ask him, "So what should we do about MY back problems?" To which he replies, "Make some PT appointments and then come and see me in 6 weeks." I did not make any appointments as I was very skeptical about doing anything for my back since the main focus of the appointment was the "mass" I had growing on my back. There were no apologies, even when I called to dispute the $475 bill that they gave me for my "appointment." After my insurance gave [redacted] a contractual adjustment, my final total was $235.30. I disputed the bill again in June 2013 because I should not have to pay for services that were based on someone else's medical charts. The fact that I am privy to this other patient's medical information and that I could have possibly continued this confused diagnosis to the point of surgery, is not only unnerving, but a blatant HIPPA Rights Violation. I was never asked my name or birthdate at the beginning of my appointment, because if I had, we could have initially prevented all of this medical negligence. [redacted] continued with their billing and now I am receiving letters from a collection agency. When I called, yet again, and talked to the billing manager Colleen, she stated, "I remember you from last year. There is nothing we can do and you need to move forward with this." In other words, "Get over it." Bottom line: Patients are billed for services rendered. My services were based on another patient's information and I received no benefit from my visit and should not have to pay a bill for such a negligent "consultation." Their failure to acknowledge their mistake and the incredible rude bullying tactics used when a patient calls with a valid dispute is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. I also worry that this other patient may not have had the medical attention that she needed, as her Doctors may have thought she already had medical assistance, which was actually ME.