CH hospital of Allentown

November 20, 2014Dear [redacted] ***: We have received your correspondence dated November 13, regarding the abovereferenced matterThe individual raised issuesFirst, he inquired whether our turning over of his account with us to our vendor for collection services was ever reported to a credit reporting serviceSecond, he objected to the facility fee charges that were billed to him.In regards to the first matter, I am enclosing a letter from the vendor that we use for collection servicesIt clarifies that our turning over of his account with us was NOT reported to a credit reporting serviceTherefore, the individual should not experience any adverse consequences to his credit score as a resultIn the unlikely event that the individual should ever receive a credit report that identifies that our turning over of his account was reported to a credit reporting service, he should immediately notify our legal department, so we may provide assistance to himIn regards to the second matter, please be advised of the following relevant information:• In July of 2011, CH Hospital of Allentown LLC (which is also referenced herein as "CHHA" and is a part of [redacted] LLC) submitted appropriate attestation to Medicare for most of its outpatient clinics to become part of its provider based hospital systemAs a provider based hospital system, [redacted] is permitted to charge patients for a facility fee when the visit occurs in one of its provider based clinics.• The federal regulation authorizing a facility fee in these situations is set forth at CFR 413.65.• Patients who visited health care providers of [redacted] ***(which is also referenced herein as “***" and which is also a part of [redacted] LLC) in the provider based clinics of [redacted] were notified of this change when they visited a [redacted] clinic that had become provider basedFor example, patients sign a document entitled "Coordinated Health Transition to Hospital Network — Provider Based Status Patient Frequently Asked Questions"This document was signed for this patient on 2/20/In addition, there are signs posted in the registration areas with this information,As recognized by the documentation that was signed for the patient, Coordinated Health does notify its patients in advance whether a clinic is part of its provider based system (and, consequently, whether a facility fee applies)And as referenced above, the facility fee charges (in addition to the professional charges) are appropriate [redacted] would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of some important information in regards to why its clinics became provider based and the effects thereof, [redacted] undertook substantial upgrades to its clinics in order to meet the standards to become provider basedThese upgrades included purchases of certain equipment, remodeling of the space and additional training and staff, among other thingsAs a result, [redacted] incurred substantial costs to become provider based — in order to improve its services to its patientsIn addition, the patient's insurer (as well as many other insurers) agreed to reimburse [redacted] for its facility feeThat agreement supports that the facility fee serves a legitimate purposePlease be further advised that most of these insurers implemented a reduction in their reimbursement on the professional fee (due to the addition of CHHA's facility fee)Please also keep in mind that most (if not all) of the other hospitals in the [redacted] area also charge facility fees for some of their outpatient services; and many physicians and other health care providers in the [redacted] are or are becoming contracted with one hospital system or anotherAs a result, there is a possibility that a patient would encounter facility fees elsewhere; but patients check with other providers to make that determination for themselvesWe hope that this information has helped you to better understand our facility fee charges, so you can make informed health care choices in the future, If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact meSincerely, Shawn PEsquire

November 20, 2014Dear [redacted]:
We have received your correspondence dated November 13, 2014 regarding the abovereferenced matter. The individual raised 2 issues. First, he inquired whether our turning over of his account with us to our vendor for collection services was ever...

reported to a credit reporting service. Second, he objected to the facility fee charges that were billed to him.In regards to the first matter, I am enclosing a letter from the vendor that we use for collection services. It clarifies that our turning over of his account with us was NOT reported to a credit reporting service. Therefore, the individual should not experience any adverse consequences to his credit score as a result. In the unlikely event that the individual should ever receive a credit report that identifies that our turning over of his account was reported to a credit reporting service, he should immediately notify our legal department, so we may provide assistance to him.
In regards to the second matter, please be advised of the following relevant information:• In July of 2011, CH Hospital of Allentown LLC (which is also referenced herein as "CHHA" and is a part of [redacted] LLC) submitted appropriate attestation to Medicare for most of its outpatient clinics to become part of its provider based hospital system. As a provider based hospital system, [redacted] is permitted to charge patients for a facility fee when the visit occurs in one of its provider based clinics.• The federal regulation authorizing a facility fee in these situations is set forth at 42 CFR 413.65.• Patients who visited health care providers of [redacted]. (which is also referenced herein as “[redacted]" and which is also a part of [redacted] LLC) in the provider based clinics of [redacted] were notified of this change when they visited a [redacted] clinic that had become provider based. For example, patients sign a document entitled "Coordinated Health Transition to Hospital Network — Provider Based Status Patient Frequently Asked Questions". This document was signed for this patient on 2/20/14. In addition, there are signs posted in the registration areas with this information,As recognized by the documentation that was signed for the patient, Coordinated Health does notify its patients in advance whether a clinic is part of its provider based system (and, consequently, whether a facility fee applies). And as referenced above, the facility fee charges (in addition to the professional charges) are appropriate.
[redacted] would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of some important information in regards to why its clinics became provider based and the effects thereof, [redacted] undertook substantial upgrades to its clinics in order to meet the standards to become provider based. These upgrades included purchases of certain equipment, remodeling of the space and additional training and staff, among other things. As a result, [redacted] incurred substantial costs to become provider based — in order to improve its services to its patients. In addition, the patient's insurer (as well as many other insurers) agreed to reimburse [redacted] for its facility fee. That agreement supports that the facility fee serves a legitimate purpose. Please be further advised that most of these insurers implemented a reduction in their reimbursement on the professional fee (due to the addition of CHHA's facility fee).
Please also keep in mind that most (if not all) of the other hospitals in the [redacted] area also charge facility fees for some of their outpatient services; and many physicians and other health care providers in the [redacted] are or are becoming contracted with one hospital system or another. As a result, there is a possibility that a patient would encounter facility fees elsewhere; but patients check with other providers to make that determination for themselves.
We hope that this information has helped you to better understand our facility fee charges, so you can make informed health care choices in the future,
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Shawn P. Esquire

Review: On several occasion the company failed to correct billing information when the bill was paid. The representative who collected information for payment was fired or let go, so the information was not recorded and further bill collection letter was sent regarding the payment that was made. I spoke with the collections specialists (Cassie B) and (Beth), who said they did not understand what happen. Then, on September 4, 2014 a check for $50.48 was mailed for what the company said was owed. On October 28, 2014, I received a collection letter from [redacted] for the amount that was mailed to the company of $50.48. The company had deposited the check on September 9, 2014, and still reported it to the [redacted] collection agency. This kind of bad practice can tarnish or lower my credit score. Also, the company has charges on the original bill for building use, which I have never heard of a medical facility charging patients for the use of their building. When I ask about this charge, they said they charge the patients for the use of their building, I don't think that patients should pay for the use of their building.Desired Settlement: That the company make sure my credit score has not been tarnished or lowered by their mistake.

Business

Response:

November 20, 2014Dear [redacted]:We have received your correspondence dated November 13, 2014 regarding the abovereferenced matter. The individual raised 2 issues. First, he inquired whether our turning over of his account with us to our vendor for collection services was ever reported to a credit reporting service. Second, he objected to the facility fee charges that were billed to him.In regards to the first matter, I am enclosing a letter from the vendor that we use for collection services. It clarifies that our turning over of his account with us was NOT reported to a credit reporting service. Therefore, the individual should not experience any adverse consequences to his credit score as a result. In the unlikely event that the individual should ever receive a credit report that identifies that our turning over of his account was reported to a credit reporting service, he should immediately notify our legal department, so we may provide assistance to him.In regards to the second matter, please be advised of the following relevant information:• In July of 2011, CH Hospital of Allentown LLC (which is also referenced herein as "CHHA" and is a part of [redacted] LLC) submitted appropriate attestation to Medicare for most of its outpatient clinics to become part of its provider based hospital system. As a provider based hospital system, [redacted] is permitted to charge patients for a facility fee when the visit occurs in one of its provider based clinics.• The federal regulation authorizing a facility fee in these situations is set forth at 42 CFR 413.65.• Patients who visited health care providers of [redacted]. (which is also referenced herein as “[redacted]" and which is also a part of [redacted] LLC) in the provider based clinics of [redacted] were notified of this change when they visited a [redacted] clinic that had become provider based. For example, patients sign a document entitled "Coordinated Health Transition to Hospital Network — Provider Based Status Patient Frequently Asked Questions". This document was signed for this patient on 2/20/14. In addition, there are signs posted in the registration areas with this information,As recognized by the documentation that was signed for the patient, Coordinated Health does notify its patients in advance whether a clinic is part of its provider based system (and, consequently, whether a facility fee applies). And as referenced above, the facility fee charges (in addition to the professional charges) are appropriate.[redacted] would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of some important information in regards to why its clinics became provider based and the effects thereof, [redacted] undertook substantial upgrades to its clinics in order to meet the standards to become provider based. These upgrades included purchases of certain equipment, remodeling of the space and additional training and staff, among other things. As a result, [redacted] incurred substantial costs to become provider based — in order to improve its services to its patients. In addition, the patient's insurer (as well as many other insurers) agreed to reimburse [redacted] for its facility fee. That agreement supports that the facility fee serves a legitimate purpose. Please be further advised that most of these insurers implemented a reduction in their reimbursement on the professional fee (due to the addition of CHHA's facility fee).Please also keep in mind that most (if not all) of the other hospitals in the [redacted] area also charge facility fees for some of their outpatient services; and many physicians and other health care providers in the [redacted] are or are becoming contracted with one hospital system or another. As a result, there is a possibility that a patient would encounter facility fees elsewhere; but patients check with other providers to make that determination for themselves.We hope that this information has helped you to better understand our facility fee charges, so you can make informed health care choices in the future,If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.Sincerely,Shawn P. Esquire