Triangle Orthopaedic Associates, P.A.

I was not advised of my options for an MRI to ensure all parties were in-network.On March 19, 2014 I visited Triangle Orthopedic Associates located at 540 North Street, Smithfield, NC 27577 and saw [redacted] for pain in my shoulder. He gave me a cortisone injection that day. On April 14, 2014 I returned to the same doctor ([redacted]) because the injection did not help the pain. After waiting over an hour with no communication from the staff, and the ability to hear [redacted] joking with the nurses in the hallway, [redacted] told me I needed to have an MRI done and the front desk would help me schedule it. When I spoke with the front desk, they told me the only place I could have it done was [redacted], they did not give me any options (like [redacted] for example). They also did not inform me that there was a chance the person actually reading the MRI results may not be in network. (If they had informed me, I would have scheduled my own MRI with in-network facilities and professionals.) On April 24, 2014 I completed my MRI. An[redacted] was prepared by my insurance on May 13,2014 stating [redacted] (a practice I had never heard of) was out of network and I was responsible for their $200 fee. On May 21, 2014 I called Triangle Orthopedic Association in Smithfield to discuss this issue with their office manager, [redacted]. My wife and I were able to speak with her and she was very appologetic that her staff did not properly inform us of our options, or any options for that matter. She said she would be in touch with us, but she never called back nor returned any of our calls. On August 4, 2014 I received a bill for $200 from [redacted] for a service I was never told about. The staff at Triangle Orthopedic Associates failed me as a patient by not informing me of my right to visit another facility to have my MRI results read by in-network professionals. Desired SettlementI believe that Triangle Orthopedic Association should be responsible for the $138.54 that my insurance did not cover for not informing me that they were sending me to an MRI facility (that was in-network) that has out-of-network radiologists read the MRI results. Business Response I have reviewed[redacted] complaint and investigated his allegations thoroughly. All MRIs are authorized through the patient's insurance company. [redacted] MRI was authorized and approved for in network benefits for [redacted]. Unfortunately, if [redacted] uses a third party to read images there would be no way for Triangle Orthopaedic Associates to know who that third party holds contracts with. Therefore, we could not have prevented this bill. I would also like to add that this complaint reads as if it is from[redacted] but all communication regarding this incident was with his wife, [redacted]. The office manager, [redacted], referenced in this complaint states that she "apologized for any inconvenience" on the phone call mentioned but that satelittle office does not precert or schedule MRIs and she did not apologize for any error. Lastly, [redacted] contacted[redacted] in response to his phone call and was instructed to direct all calls to his wife. [redacted] contacted [redacted] and explained that we would not have known about [redacted] third party network benefits and they would need to address this with [redacted]. I hope that this clears up any issue or concern. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.Consumer Response It is unfortunate this business does not care more about its reputation. This complaint is from me,[redacted] as it is MY bill and MY complaint, stemming from the conversations my wife had with [redacted] regarding MY experience with [redacted] and Triangle Ortho. This bill most definitely could have been prevented if the staff at Triangle Orth was communicative, informative, open and honest about its practices, but they are just the opposite. I am very dissatisfied with the response from [redacted] and Triangle Orthopedic Associates.