Suburban Hospital

Review: On 04/08/2014 I has to take a "sleeping test" at the Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md. recommended by my primary physician Dr. A. D[redacted] from [redacted] Physicians in [redacted], Md. To begun with when I make my appointment I toll the lady that I holding [redacted] Insurance card and also a Part A of Medicare, so I got to the hospital that night, the employee take all my documentation and the they walk me to the test station were I spent all evening and in the morning my doughter pick me up. Bu unfortuntlley the 14 of April I sofer a bad back problem and has to be sent to the [redacted] emergency room and then to my Primary Physician and then to the Ortopedic, Dr. S[redacted] and I still in disabillity, then in April 28th. I receive a bill from the Suburban Hospital for $896.25, from were I paid 3 months installaments of $100.00 each then I forgot to send one month and they tray to send me to a collection so on 08/02/14 I send another $100.0, bring mi the account balance to $496.25. Now on August the 20 or 21st. I has to see my Primary physician and I ask her I she has receive any report from the Suburban Hospital and she toll me that nothing has been sent to her attention and I did not receive any thing from the Hospital as well, so they are charging me all this money for a service that has not been completed and they also tray to sent me to a collection, and I belive that the Hospital has to recognize that thy made mistake in charge me for service not done. ACCT. #[redacted]Desired Settlement: That it will be according how you are interpreting this narration.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted]:I am writing to confirm receipt of your letter dated September 8, 2014. At Suburban Hospital we take all, complaints seriously and continue to strive to provide quality patient care. As such, I have investigated the matter concerning [redacted]’s complaint surrounding his sleep study in April 2014. Below, I have outlined the fundings of the investigation:1.**. [redacted] was admitted on April 7, 2014 and Discharged on April 8, 2014, during which time he underwent a sleep study.2.The total charges were $1511.46.a. The contractual allowance for [redacted] HMO of $30.23 and the [redacted] HMO payment of $584.98 were received on April 23, 2014.b. This left a balance of 5896.25 as **, [redacted] was responsible for a $750 deductible and a $146.25 coinsurance payment.c. On May 2, 2014, **. [redacted] contacted the billing department at Suburban Hospital and set up a payment plan for $200 a month.d.He made payments of $100 each on May 7, 2014, .Tune 2, 2014 and August 5, 2015 totaling $300.00.e. On. August 19. 2014, **. [redacted] called to state that he would pay $100 by the 25th of the month.f. On. August 21.2014, **. [redacted] contacted the Suburban Hospital Office of Patient and Family Experience stating that he had questions regarding his bill. A representative from our bill mg office contacted **. [redacted] at which time he informed the caller that the referring physician never received the results of the sleep study and that he should not have to pay the bill.g.On August 22, 2014, the billing office confirmed that on August 8, 2014, the hospital sent the study to the designated physician who reads such reports. The interpreting physician is the physician who then forwards the results to the referring physician. This has been along standing practice at the hospital.h.On August 22, 2014. the Sleep Study Director resent the study to the interpreting physician AND to the referring physician.On August 26, 2014, Suburban Hospital received a payment of $100.00 from **. [redacted] leaving a balance of $496.25. **. [redacted] remains responsible for the balance of $496.25. As of today, the Sleep Center Ditector has implemented a new procedure. All sleep study reports will be forwarded to the interpreting physician AND the referring physician, as a back-up method to ensure all results is received by the referring physician.At Suburban Hospital we take pride in provided quality, compassionate care to the community. I am sorry to hear that we did not meet **. [redacted]’s expectations. We are hopeful that he will give us another opportunity to serve him.Tresa FDirector Risk, Services & Privacy

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: If your agency contact with Dr. [redacted] my primary physician phone ####-###-#### she will tell that she receive the result of my test last week, because she call me last pass friday and toll me that I will have to call the hospital or the Dr. to get the sleeping aid that was a result of that test. So so far the letter of the Hospital regarding my payments is ok., but in regard to the report of my test this is not true, please feel free to call Dr. D[redacted] to in order to certificate my comments.

Regards,

Consumer

Response:

Tanks you very much for your response, I had receive from the Suburban Hospital a new bill for $496.26 last month and since I did't heair from you I send them a payment of 196.26, and I was afraid that them send me to collection because my records are very good, also they send me a form like for people of low incom to be reviude bay the financial office and disregard the charges, but I am not iu thi sitution.So I still as the bigini thy do not want to recognize their error and still want to collect the money, also Dr. [redacted] on [redacted] Prof. Building, [redacted], Md [redacted], send me a bill for $325.00 for service provided the same date 4/7/2 014, so gentlemens I'm still as the bigini.

Review: They put me on collection now regarding a double billing for treatment for a pet dog bite. collection agency is Law Offices [redacted]. On May 29, 2014 I wrote the Accounting department disputing the double billing charge. I had a treatment at Sururban hospital for a dog bite of which I have to wait for 3 hours before I could be seen and after the first treatment the attending nurse told me to comback for some more shots , I was billed for $150.00 plus my insurance. I came back as instructed, then they charged me again for another $150.00 dollars plus my insurance co, the nurse did not tell me that every time I come back I will be charged for $150.00 co-pay. I was acting in good faith as instructed to come back so went for the 3rd time and they charged me for additional $150.00 co-pay. If I only known the fee I should have went to some clinics which will only charge $30.00 co pay per visit. This time I am disputing the 150.00 co pay for this is too much and they did not stipulate on my first visit that I will be charged. Now $150.00 is on collection and I need your help on this matter for this is too much for me.Desired Settlement: If you could let the Law Office of [redacted] stop the collection.

Business

Response:

September 24, 2014Dear [redacted]:Thank you for taking the time to notify us of the concerns regarding your care while you were a patient at Suburban Hospital in August of 2013. I am sorry your experience did not meet your expectations.The charges for the care provided to you by our staff were found to be appropriate for the services rendered. When a patient presents to the emergency department with an animal bite, it must be evaluated and treated appropriately. While it is never pleasant to receive an injection, rabies vaccination is no longer the painful process of days gone by. It does, however, involve 4 shots, at intervals, to produce immunity to a uniformly fatal diseaserabies- if not prevented. Prior to each injection, the patient must be evaluated for possible reaction to the prior vaccination. This is clinically important and required by law, as is the registration process using an electronic medical record.Patients without insurance are often treated at the public health clinics but the clinics refer patients with insurance to the local hospital. We would not have had the option to send you elsewhere. The day of service in dispute was one where additional care was rendered beyond just administering a vaccination.Based on the available information, I must decline your request that we reduce the charges for the care provided to you. Our charges were for services that we provided in good faith and in accordance with community standards.Thank you again for contacting us to share your concerns. Your feedback is valuable to us and is appreciated. Should you have any further concerns or comments, please feel free to contact me at [redacted].Sincerely,Frances SRisk Management and Patient Safety Coordinator