Michael J Smith D.D.S.

Dear [redacted] : We are responding to a complaint filed to the Revdex.com by one of our dental patientsThe complaint ID number is [redacted] The complaint has been noted and we are disputing the issueThe matter concerns the payment of her dental services providedThe patient had dental insurance and signed a financial policy stating that she is responsible for payment of all dental servicesFurthermore, the financial policy states that the estimated patient portion is due at the time of treatmentWe can only estimate the amount the patient will need to pay but do not know the exact portion at the time of treatment because insurance may or may not pay what is expectedNot all servicesare a covered benefit in all contractsSome plans arbitrarily select certain services they will not cover In case [redacted] the insurance did not cover composite (tooth colored) filing and downgraded the services to an amalgam which is a mercury filling which we do not provide in our officeThe mercury fillings ore not healthy to the mouth so we do not do themwe have a signed copy of the financial Policy that delineates the patient's responsibility for payment but by law we cannot release the patient's records until the patient signs a release of her records We have mailed a request to the patient to release her records We will need extra time to allow her to respond- Please let us know the time period we have to work with in order to resolve this matter We are waiting for a response from the patient regarding her permission to release her records so this issue can be resolvedEnclosed is an unsigned copy or our financial policyThis document is the document the patient signed at the time of treatmentThis is the document we are waiting tor from the patient to release to you stating her agreement to pay for services renderedlt is part of her health record which by low, we cannot release to a non-medical entity without the patient's permission Sincerely, Michael JSmith DDS

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below
I did forward the request to release medical records last week
I did sign a form, but this was after services were rendered and was told a much lower cost which I paid for that day When I was told the cost of the services I thought they had processed it through the insuranceI have always paid the correct balance due for all of the services rendered by this dentist in the past with no problemsThe dentist knew full well that I needed to know the cost of services before services were rendered as the dentist and his assistant were present while I waited for the front office clerk gave me a priceI believe this to be an internal error as the girl that gave me the quote was later fired.
Regards,
*** ***

Dear [redacted]:
 
We are responding to a complaint filed to the Revdex.com by one of our dental patients. The complaint ID number is [redacted]. The complaint has been...

noted and we are disputing the issue. The matter concerns the payment of her dental services provided. The patient had dental insurance and signed a financial policy stating that she is responsible for payment of all dental services. Furthermore, the financial policy states that the estimated patient  portion is due at the time of treatment. We can only estimate the amount the patient will need to pay but do not know the exact portion at the time of treatment because insurance may or may not pay what is expected. Not all services. are a covered benefit in all
contracts. Some plans arbitrarily select certain services they will not cover.  In case [redacted] the insurance did not cover composite (tooth colored)  filing and downgraded the services to an amalgam which is a mercury filling which we do not provide in our office. The mercury fillings ore not healthy to the mouth so we do not do them. we have a signed copy  of the financial Policy that delineates the patient's responsibility for payment but by law we cannot release the patient's records until the patient signs a release of her records.  We have mailed a request to the patient  to release her records.  We will need extra time to allow her to respond-
 
Please let us know the time period we have to work with in order to resolve this matter.  We are waiting for a response from the patient regarding her permission to release her records so this issue can be resolved. Enclosed is an unsigned copy or our financial policy. This document is the document the patient  signed at the time of treatment. This is the document we are waiting tor  from the patient  to release to you stating her agreement to pay for services rendered. lt is part of her health record which by low, we cannot release to a non-medical entity without the patient's permission.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Michael J. Smith DDS

The issue with Karen Crosby has been resolved.
Please let us know if you have questions.
Thank you,
Dr. Michael J. Smith, D.D.S

Review: I went into Dr. Smiths office to have filliings done. When I was sitting the dentists chair I had the front office staff advise me of what my payment will be for the services performed. I was advised that my out of pocket expense would only be around 79.00. So I had the dentist proceed with the procedure. I then received a bill for 185.80. I called the Dr office and explained that I was advised by their office that my out of pocket expense would only be 79.00. They then proceeded to tell me that the insurance company did not pay accordingly. My HR person called the insurance and was told they paid a smaller amount because the dr office used a more expensive filling. When I told the Dr office that they told me the cheaper fillings are rarely used by any doctor. I told them that I would have no way knowing this as a consumer. I requested to have the portion written off, and I thought they did so as I did not hear back from them.Desired Settlement: I am requesting once again that they write off the balance due as this was an internal error when they told me my out of pocket expense.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted]:

I went into Dr. Smiths office to have filliings done. When I was sitting the dentists chair I had the front office staff advise me of what my payment will be for the services performed. I was advised that my out of pocket expense would only be around 79.00. So I had the dentist proceed with the procedure. I then received a bill for 185.80. I called the Dr office and explained that I was advised by their office that my out of pocket expense would only be 79.00. They then proceeded to tell me that the insurance company did not pay accordingly. My HR person called the insurance and was told they paid a smaller amount because the dr office used a more expensive filling. When I told the Dr office that they told me the cheaper fillings are rarely used by any doctor. I told them that I would have no way knowing this as a consumer. I requested to have the portion written off, and I thought they did so as I did not hear back from them.