Community Health Association of Spokane

Review: When I went into the clinic in Deer Park Washington I i was supposed to get my tooth extracted that day I got the day off from work even to get this done when I went in they decided that they needed to reschedule me for 2 weeks out. when I had originally come in on an emergency appointment. then I went and had my tooth extracted elsewhere and when I called them to just refund the money I had payed and cancel the appointment they said yeah no problem and got my information canceled my appointment it all seemed to go well until when I waited the 8 weeks they said to issue a refund and still received nothing so I called in and got transferred around to 3 people in the billing department and finally a man said to me that I apparently owed 150 or so to them for work I had done in 2010 and that my amount was just credited to that amount which I never said could be done nor was aware that the balance they stated even existed from before it seemed really awkward why I wouldn't receive any paper work about this amount I owed or hear about it when I came in to get work done the three times after that so all in all they just said they would sent me a statement which would show that I magically now owe money and they had said they sent out 18 notices to me which I havent received and ive always had my address updated. all in all this company is just trying to keep my money and not refund for a service that was never done.Desired Settlement: I want the money I was supposed to have refunded to me 8 weeks ago refunded i'm tired of their games i'm tired of their bull. and I want the money ASAP with no excuses and no mysterious Debts

Business

Response:

Pursuant to the Healthcare Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) we are unable to disclose any information pertaining to patient care, including the existence of a patient/provider relationship, without a signed release from the patient. Once we’ve received a signed copy of the attached release form we can fully respond to this complaint. Thank you.

Warning! Read the Assessment / Plan in full. Each time I have been to Chas the records that have been placed in my file have been 80% false.
They claim to have counseled, provided patient handouts, provided patient education, etc.
My first appointment was for limited use of my left arm. that was last December. They still have offered no help.
Wanted a full thyroid panel done and was told to make an appointment. they gave me an appointment for 7:45 am which was interesting since the doors weren't open until 8am ( I wasn't the only one with this appointment time waiting outside). Finally called back around 8:10.
ARNP ordered tests which I could not afford and did not want. Yet refused to order the full thyroid panel.
Once again reading thru my records I find so many falsehoods and grave distortions it amazes me.
Final words, you get what you pay for. Honesty and Integrity not included. (personal experience with the ARNP that saw me)

Review: On August 7 2013 I called [redacted] and was quoted $80.00 for a [redacted]. Went to the office paid $88.00 had the[redacted]. On 9-11-2013 received a statement for an additionalbill in the amount of $31.00. I have called their billing office and was told that the dentist had used more of something than wasusual and that I would have to pay the additional $33.00.Desired Settlement: Dismissal of the charge.

Business

Response:

A [redacted] representative will contact the consumer to resolve the matter.

Review: When I went to Chas for dental work, I told them I was not working and would not be able to pay for anything that was not covered by the insurance. On 11/14/2013 I received a bill that says I now owe $162.00 for [redacted]. I told them I could not pay. Why was that work done?Desired Settlement: Is there any way to help with my payments to get the dentures finished?

Business

Response:

We have contacted this patient directly and resolved the matter.

Review: I have Community Health First Medicare Advantage Plan. I had an $875 limit in dental benefits for the year. From the beginning they were explicitly informed that I needed to remain at or below my limit. CHAS has familiarity with me and my insurance. On nearly every visit I inquired how much would be billed to my insurance. Every visit they stated a dollar amount. On several visits, the dollar amount they stated would be billed was less than the billed amount. When I was getting closer to my $875 limit, I inquired with the insurance specialist there how much of my $875 was yet to be used. The reply was $221. At that point they had already billed the insurance at least $875. I didn't learn of this misinformation until weeks after the matter. I thought I was doing my part in keeping track of my insurance benefits by checking with them how much they had billed. I naively assumed I could trust that they weren't billing more than they stated. I have attempted on 3 occasions to resolve this issue with the provider and on 2 occasions with the insurance, all to no avail. Unfortunately, I have no proof that they told me one # and billed another, as I was unaware that I could not trust them and didn't think to insist on having it all in writing prior to services. This same report will be going to the state insurance commissioner. Thanks for your time.Desired Settlement: I respectfully request that this complaint be noted and that CHAS be investigated and/or monitored if possible. If multiple such complaints exist, I hope that CHAS is forced to change through court order. I would like to think that somehow this helps people in the future with any similar issues. I have no expectations of my remaining balance being eliminated, but have also informed CHAS they can have no expectation of payment.

Business

Response:

[redacted], Resolution Moderator

Re: Complaint ID [redacted]

Prior to beginning a course of services at any CHAS dental clinic, a treatment plan is created, reviewed with the patient and then signed and dated by the patient. These treatment plans include a recommended course of treatment and a cost estimate for each service (ex. 1st visit - scaling - x dollars; 2nd visit - extraction - x dollars, etc.). On the treatment plan for this particular patient, the dental benefit limit, the amount of benefits used at the time the treatment plan was created and the remaining annual benefit amount are clearly noted on the treatment plan. This treatment plan also included a handwritten line indicating the point at which the patient would run out of annual dental benefits and a note stating, "wait till next year." However, the patient continued to schedule appointments, we continued to provide services and the patient ended up exceeding the annual benefit limit. Supporting documentation is available if necessary.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.

An email was sent with my reply prior to reaching this page. The matter remains unresolved because they are neither admitting they lied repeatedly, making adjustments with my insurance nor crediting my account with them the appropriate amount. Unless those actions are completed, they have lost a patient for life, a patient that has been going to CHAS clinics since 1999 and would have continued to go there for years to come.

Regards,

Business

Response:

This patient was notified on multiple occasions that specific vists would not be covered due to benefit limits in his insurance plan. The patient opted to receive treatment despite our recommendations that he wait until the new year for renewal of his annual dental benefit to complete his treatment plan. This recommendation is on the treatment plan issued on August 9, 2013, prior to the patient exceeding his benefit limit. Previous attempts to explain this to the patient in person have been unsuccessful.