New Century Imaging

Revdex.com:I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to meThank you so much for your kind help!!

Thank you for giving New Century Imaging the opportunity to respond to this complaint.  This patient's services have been reviewed in detail by our Internal Review Committee which includes a Senior Radiologist proficient in breast imaging.  This patient's exam was ordered and performed as...

a screening mammogram and should not have been billed as a diagnostic mammography service.  I have notified our billing department to notify the patient's carrier of the billing error and to correctly resubmit the bill so that the claim is processed properly as a screening, which should leave no out of pocket responsibility to the patient at all.  I sincerely apologize on behalf of New Century Imaging for the incorrect handling of this service as well as the difficulty the patient endured while trying to resolve this issue.  Please be assured that the account will be updated immediately.I would like to thank this patient for bringing this issue to our attention.  Issues such as this give us opportunity to improve upon our process so that we may prevent a future patient from having a similar problem.

Review: I have been using NCI (New Century Imaging LLC) for annual mammogram screen for at least 6 years now. Last July as I received a bill from NCI in the amount of $171.37. At first I called the billing department and made the payment over the phone. Then I realized that the annual mammogram is supposed to be covered 100% by my insurance plan. So, I called my insurance company to verify. My insurance company explained the deductible of $171.37 (patient's responsibility ) was due to NCI's diagnostic coding, stated if they had coded as annual mammogram then it would have been free of charge to me. The insurance company said that NCI could make a correction on the claim if needed. I then called the NCI billing, explained the service was for annual check up and asked for the billing correction to the insurance company. The billing department stated it was their policy not to make any corrections on the coding. So, I asked the lady over the phone to let NCI office know that I was going to cancel the credit card payment until a further explanation on why they changed the course of the service without notifying me first.

In the mid November, [redacted], the mammogram technician called and explained they had taken 4 additional photos because the NCI doctor couldn't see well. The 4 additional photos were the result of diagnostic billing. I asked her why she didn't explain to me at the time of the service. I stated during the past years, I have always ended up combining ultra sound along with regular annual mammogram. For this one, I ended up doing Ultra sound which cost me $117.70 out of pocket on 5/23 anyway. She said she would forward my comment to her boss and have someone to contact me. Nobody has contacted me from the office but the billing dept. After receiving the same bill on 12/19/14, I spoke and emailed [redacted]y seeking for an explanation or billing correction but nothing has happened. Now, I received a Past Due letter threating to forward my account to a collection agencyDesired Settlement: I need their explanation on why they wouldn't give me choice on whether I wanted to have these 4 additional photos. I am seeking a billing adjustment. Or, an apology from the NCI office. If the apology is sincere, I will consider to make the payment.

Thank you.

Business

Response:

Thank you for giving New Century Imaging the opportunity to respond to this complaint. This patient's services have been reviewed in detail by our Internal Review Committee which includes a Senior Radiologist proficient in breast imaging. This patient's exam was ordered and performed as a screening mammogram and should not have been billed as a diagnostic mammography service. I have notified our billing department to notify the patient's carrier of the billing error and to correctly resubmit the bill so that the claim is processed properly as a screening, which should leave no out of pocket responsibility to the patient at all. I sincerely apologize on behalf of New Century Imaging for the incorrect handling of this service as well as the difficulty the patient endured while trying to resolve this issue. Please be assured that the account will be updated immediately.I would like to thank this patient for bringing this issue to our attention. Issues such as this give us opportunity to improve upon our process so that we may prevent a future patient from having a similar problem.

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. Thank you so much for your kind help!!