RMA of New Jersey

On October 3, 2022 my wife and I had our first round of IUI scheduled in the Springfield NJ office. I arrived at the Springfield NJ office at 5:50 a.m. for a 6:00 am appointment. This appointment had been confirmed through text messages several days prior. After waiting for 20 minutes inside that office to drop off a sample I finally received a call. They said that I now needed to go to Basking Ridge NJ because Springfield could not do what we were asking that day. What kind of business sets an appointment for a medical procedure and doesn’t realize that it can not be done on that day inside THAT office!? My wife and I both work and live far from this office. I was now concerned about the timing of the sample. This created a massive amount of stress for both her and I. I contacted the office and they were aware I was on my way. This was an extreme inconvenience. I told them that I can not just afford to travel over 30 minutes out of the way like this and they assured me that they would not allow me to wait too long. Upon arrival at 7:02 AM I now had to wait ANOTHER 20 minutes in an office that I was not even supposed to have been in. This lack of professionalism and poor communication is disgraceful. I was late to work, my wife and I were both concerned and stressed, and we don’t even know if this effected the sample. This is now just one of many incidents my wife and I have had to deal with. I am extremely unhappy with the recent events.

On October 3, 2022 my wife and I were scheduled to do our first round of IUI. RMA told us several times the appointment would be in their Springfield offices and even confirmed it through text message. I showed up to the office at 5:50 a.m for a scheduled appointment. These offices are not close for us. After waiting in that office for 20 minutes they finally call me and tell me that the appointment is ACTUALLY in Basking Ridge! What kind of medical business can’t even realize where this important procedure is being performed!? My wife and I both work and were concerned about the time of the sample. I expressed this to them again over the phone while driving and still had to wait another 20 minutes upon arrival. I ended up being over an hour late to work. I am extremely frustrated with the lack of professionalism and communication from RMA. This is not even the first issue we have had with them. I can not even express my disappointment.

I am now a former patient that was seen only one time and would not recommend this office or DrEric F*; I have had nothing but problems with him and his staff regarding testing & billing I explained I worked for the hospital system that is located across the street in Morristown and all testing needed to be done there for it to be covered at 100% with no deductible I informed DrF* times during my consultation that any testing done in the office would not be covered under my insurance and I was told “don’t worry about it”, then I get a bill for an ultrasound deductible that would not have occurred if he listened to me and sent me to the hospital for that testing as I instructed multiple times Then the staff in the financial office was not helpful I was getting bounced around to different people that stated they could not help me and that DrF* would call me which he personally did and stated that he would waive that outstanding amount; then again another bill arrives and miraculously he now has not recollection of our discussion or never informed his staff I feel that they take advantage of people trying to expand their family and would never recommend them or their office- if you have the option to go elsewhere please consider it

Hi [redacted]
As mentioned the fees charged were actually from a third party lab ([redacted] Labs) for genetic sceening provided by another company called [redacted]. Our billing dept reached out to both groups and they uncovered the error and have restated the fees to the patient. The patient should...

receive an updated statement in 7-10 days from [redacted] Labs. If they patient has any issues please let us know. Thank you for your call,
[redacted]

Review: I adopted an embryo through an embryo adoption agency. My fertility specialist in GA said that he could monitor me before & after the embryo transfer, but he felt that it would be safest to send me to the embryo rather than transport the embryo to me. So, I became a patient of the RMA of NJ fertility clinic that created and is housing the embryo. In my new applicant paperwork, the full name of the embryo donor (also a patient of RMA of NJ) was in 4 places. Through the process, RMA of NJ stated their policy was to have the patient and husband have a complete infectious disease screening. We did that and I asked if the donor needed to do that and was told that it wasn't necessary as they had that done when the embryo was created. I have already purchased all of the expensive fertility medications that are required for the transfer cycle. In paying for the procedure, I talked with [redacted], finance manager and told her that I was told a price of $6,000 less than what she was trying to charge me. In going through all the figures, we determined that I didn't need to pay their RMA agency fee as I utilized an outside agency for the matching and legal paperwork.

That same day, I receive a message from [redacted], RN to [redacted], stating that the necessary steps had not been taken. It appears a little strange that they have had the donor's name the entire time as it was in 4 places on the application and now they are saying that things have to be redone when we were told that it wasn't necessary and that additional steps need to be taken on both the donor's end and our end. All of this on the day I made a payment substantially less than their normal fee and the day I was to start my cycle of medications. If those things were necessary, why tell me after I was to start the cycle. It appears that it isn't about their policy, but about not receiving the money they desire. And the nurse, [redacted], will not return any of my email or phone call messages.Desired Settlement: First, I want [redacted] aware of what his team member, [redacted], RN and other staff members are doing. Second, I want to make other potential patients aware of the unethical business practices of this fertility clinic. Third, I think RMA of NJ should make it very clear with step by step written docmentation processes to any potential embryo donor recipient with all the pieces that are required and necessary before the process is started so they aren't made unaware of anything else that needs to be done after the start of their cycle which causes a delay and additional fees/costs. Lastly, I desire a refund of all expenses paid to RMA of NJ.

Business

Response:

I have looked into this matter and reviewed with involved personnel.

[redacted] was under the erroneous impression that the embryo donor had satisfied all of the required regulatory steps and screening tests needed for our program to legally proceed with transfer of this embryo to this customer. In all prior cases of embryo donation we have participated in with other outside agencies, these issues are dealt with well in advance of the recipient’s presentation for treatment with us. In this case, the embryo donation agency had 'placed the embryo in question up for donation prior to having legal “ownership” of this embryo. The legal coutract securing transfer of ownership of the embryo from the donating couple to the agency was not completed at the time of the patient’s presentation to RMANJ. In order for any ART program to utilize any donated embryo (s), Federally-mandated regulatory screening tests for infectious diseases are required of the donating individuals, performed through an FDA-approved laboratory. A social WOrker’s evaluation and genetic counseling are also required of the donating individuals. The embryo recipient also must complete genetic counseling and a social work evaluation.

Payment was made by this customer for her planned cryopreserved donated embryo transfer treatment cycle. [redacted] RN had set up the cycle plan under the erroneous assumption that the legal contract and all outstanding screening tests required of the embryo donor had been completed by the embryo donation agency (as is the expected standard). Unfortunately, this clerical error was discovered when this customer was supposed to start medications for the treatment, and the cycle had to be cancelled due to failure of compliance with federally mandated regulations for embryo donation.

I admit that this oversight was an error on our part. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. RMA is willing to reimburse the patient if she does not wish to proceed with treatment. If the patient wishes to proceed, however, she and the embryo donor will need to complete the entire screening process.