Hackensack University Medical Center

If I could give this review a O stars I would. I was diagnosed with blood clots in my leg by my primary physician. I was given a prescription for a venous doppler. I called for an appointment and received one. They day before my appt I received a call from financial services that I had a $1300 co pay. I explained I was a teacher and did not return to work until Sept 1st and therefore my first check would not be until the 15th if I was able to pay it then the nice woman said yes and even offered to put me on a 24 month payment plan so I did not have to pay out such a large amount at once. The morning of and an hour before my appt, I received a call from the supervisor in financial services stating if I did not have the $1300 today I was unable to get the test done. I have never heard of such a thing and the nerve of a hospital denying a patient service for something as serious as blood clots in the leg is just down right disgusting.

I was shocked to receive a $5,517 bill with my Aetna Insurance with an account balance of $1,796 not counting the doctor for a rather routine ER visit. There appear to be coding errors such as CPT code 99285 which is Pr Emergency Visit High Complexity $3,143. This is a Covid code and I was never even tested for Covid.

From https://emuniversity.com/HighComplexityMedicalDecision-Making.html I see High Complexity Medical Decision-Making
It says this level of MDM is required for a level 3 hospital progress note (99233) or a level 5 office visit with an established patient (99215). The patient would need to have a severe exacerbation of a chronic problem or an acute illness which threatens life or bodily function to qualify for this level of risk. The data reviewed would have to be quite extensive to reach the threshold for high complexity MDM. This doesn't appear to match what I came into the ER for with pretty basic Covid symptoms. I had tested positive about 2 weeks ago at that point (May 3rd, my visit was May 15th)
It says this CPT code 99285 requires two out of three of the following. I would like the details of these items.
1) Four problem points
2) Four data points
3) High risk

I also see charges for $6.80 and $16.00 for pharmacy and CPT code J2930 for methylprednisolone injection for $36.41. I recall a cortisteroid in my IV of fluids but have no idea what the pharmacy charges would be and I didn't have any injections.

I found out after this ER visit I could have had the same thing done for a $45 copay and deductible waived and my insurance plan would pay 100% for any procedures at the modern Summit Medical Group in Livingston which is the closest thing for an Urgent care to a hospital. Furthermore, my husband would have been allowed inside rather than being kicked out of the hospital whereby he had to wait in the car for 6 1/2 hrs. for me. When he tried to get a status of my emergency room visit to HUMC, they never called him back after multiple attempted calls. I understand they typically are very fast at the Summit Medical Group Urgent Care in Livingston.

Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me

HackensackUMC is in receipt of the complaint and will address this billing issue directly with the complainant

Had surgery at a surgi-center and pathology samples sent to Hackensack Pathology. I was billed separately for tissue exam by pathologist both by Hackensack Pathology and the Hackensack University Medical Center. When I inquired why I was billed by the hospital ( I never went to the hospital) I was told that because the lab was located in the hospital, it was for use of the facility. Needless to say, the cost of the hospital was more than the exam itself. No other doctor charges like this. If you go to the dentist, you are not charged separately for the use of the dental equipment. Had I had a choice in the matter, I would have asked to have the tissue sent to a lab with such a billing procedure. contact 201-755-1083

HackensackUMC is in receipt of this complaint and will be communicating directly with the complainant regarding her billing concern.

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Review: On 5 /04/2013 I had a bone density X-ray at HUMC.

I received account statement from HUMC of 6/14/2013

Billed amount $ 911

Insurance pmt & adjustments: $871

Acct. Bal. $40, which I paid by check [redacted] of 6/21/2013

Then I received a statement dd. 8/11/2014 from [redacted] With amount due dol.100

I sent a copy of the bill statement of 6/14/2014 proving that service was paid for.

Description of charge: [redacted] unlisted [redacted]Desired Settlement: I do not think I should pay the dol.100 charged by [redacted] more than a year after the xray and after I paid the originally requested amount of dol.40.

Business

Response:

HackensackUMC is in receipt of this complaint and will be communicating directly with the complainant regarding her billing concern.

Review: My son [redacted] visited Hackensack University Medical Center in January 2015. During his checkup, Hackensack Pathology Associates (affiliated to HUMC) was used for lab results. Hackensack Pathology Associates billed and were paid for all lab results. Due to an error, they were overpaid $400 (A check was sent to them instead of the hospital). I have been trying to get this $400 refunded back to me for the past four months. Every time, I am being given different excuses for not mailing the refund check. They see the credit balance on my account, but according to them, they have to wait for the doctor to "fund the account" so they can mail me my refund check.I think I am being taken for a ride by the Hackensack Pathology Associates and its doctor, for refusing to return the money they received in error.Desired Settlement: Need a refund check issued without delay. It has been five months, since the account was overpaid. A number of calls to the third party billing office (where the check was sent) and talks with its supervisors Samantha, Jennifer [redacted] and Vanessa failed to generate a refund check as of today.This office has followed fraudulent business practices, and I strongly recommend staying away from this business.

Business

Response:

Monies refunded to [redacted] (patient) on 9/25/15, Check # [redacted] in the amount of $400.00 and mailed to Mr. [redacted] address, [redacted] In our opinion the delay was a result of the confusion on the part of the third party billing company and the fact that the complaint was not supported in writing for reference. Steps have been taken to improve the process.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted]0.

Yes, I got my refund check finally, after a four month wait, but only after a complaint was made to Revdex.com. The doctor's office and the third party billing company [redacted] are well trained in finger pointing and passing the blame to the other side. From what they told me, I am just one of the hundreds of pending claims, when patients are waiting "patiently" to get their refunds. An overpayment on the account was gladly accepted, hoping that I would never notice it. Instead of proactively refunding any credit balance, the business decides to sit on the windfall, until a refund is requested.Not an ethical business and it is a shame that it is affiliated to a well known hospital Hackensack University Medical Center. My family and I will stay away from both, the hospital and the lab. There are plenty other upright businesses in the area.

Regards, **

Review: I received a bill from the Hackensack University Medical Center for the amount of $315.00 in August 2014 with a description of service as Pathology. My wife called and told the person in the billing department to send the bill to my insurance company. They asked for the Insurance information which my wife faxed them both sides of my insurance card. She then called back to make sure they received the fax which they did. On 9/01/2014 I received the bill again. This time the description of service was blank. I called the billing department on 9/05/2014 and spoke to [redacted]. I asked why this bill is not being sent to me instead of my Insurance company. He said they would need my insurance info which I explained my wife had sent them earlier. I then gave him my Insurance information again. On 10/04/2014 I received a letter to pay the $315.00 within 10 days or it would be sent to an outside collection agency. For some reason they refuse to bill my Insurance company. I checked my medical records on the [redacted] website and found that on 12/20/2013 a claim was made by Hackensack Pathology Asso for $160.00 where I owe $10.12 which I paid. Something is not right here!Desired Settlement: Desired outcome would be to stop billing me directly and bill my insurance company for this charge, if it is legitimate or place the status of my account as satisfied with a zero balance and a statement mailed to me stating as such.

Business

Response:

HackensackUMC is in receipt of the complaint and will address this billing issue directly with the complainant

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

Review: I have received numerous calls from this organization regarding a past due bill for someone that is not me. I don't know how they got my number, but have asked them on 3 separate occasions to remove the number from the file and stop calling. I have received three calls from the last time I asked them to remove the number on 6 June 2014. Now an automated recording comes on, I try to transfer to billing department (department in which call is originating), and now receive a busy tone like they are hanging up on me. I am trying to remain calm about this, but patience is wearing thin. I am hoping that filing a complaint here will help resolve my issue as I am sure I am not the only one receiving calls like this. I feel it is unprofessional and unethical, seeing as I have received the name of the person being billed and the location to which the service was provided.Desired Settlement: To not receive a call from this organization in regards to someone else. Permanent removal of my business office number from their system and automatic dial service. I live in [redacted] and have no reason to visit or use Hackensack University Medical Center.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:They are asking for new information. The information they are asking for is as follows:Call back number is [redacted]The department is either the Hackensack University Medical Center Billing Department or their Business Department. I get calls from both. The person calling me is not always the same person. The person they are calling about is not me or anyone I know.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:They are asking for more information. The information they are requesting is as follows:Number to which they are calling is ([redacted].Patient's name is unknown as I have not requested it any further than the first time they called and did not record it. I try to respect the privacy of others and would expect that to be carried out by whomever I do business with.

Regards,

Business

Response:

Phone number has been removed