University Hospitals Parma Medical Center

( [redacted] ***)***From: [redacted] >Date: Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 7:34 PMSubject: Complaint response for Mr. [redacted] To: [redacted] >Dear Mr. [redacted] , I have research the Mr. and Mrs.... [redacted] ’s letter questioning $50 copay’s for hospital services provided on February 16th and March 1st 2017.Regarding the February service, Mr. [redacted] was transferred from Parma Medical Center to another UH facility, the $50 ER copay should have been waived. The $50 charge for February service has been written off. For the March 1 service Mr. [redacted] ’s condition did not meet inpatient criteria per CMS guidelines. He was kept in the hospital as Observation status.Observation status claims are submitted as Part B claims which would be subject to applicable copays/coinsurance. Hospitals are required to follow Medicare medical billing requirements.I apologize for the confusion this has caused Mr. and Mrs. [redacted] . Thank you, [redacted] University Hospitals Revenue Cycle ManagementCustomer Service Center, Rm ***20800 Harvard Rd. Highland Hills, OH 44122 [redacted]

Mr*** did not have surgery at our facility but did have a diagnostic procedure, a cardiac catheterization. Diagnostic procedures do not fall under the surgical category and follow up visits are subject to patient's copays per their individual insurance plans. Mr***'s insurnce was billed for the follvisit and his insurance paid and stated his out of pocket expenses is $46.16. His insurance would not have paid if his insurance believed it was a billable expense. The procedure was performed by DrH*** who is not an employed physician at University Hospitals Parma Medical Center. While DrH*** does have privileges here, his practice is independent from the hospital and his billing is also separate from the hospital. While he does have space in one of our Medical Arts Buildings, it is not owned by UHPMC.
On behalf of the patient, we have contacted DrH***'s office and spoke with *** (***. We have also forwarded both letters from the Revdex.com to her for follow-up. *** informed us that on February 2, 2016, Mr*** contacted their office and they did inform him that he did not have surgery but a diagnostic procedure and this does not complay to the day surgery rules for follow up visits. Again, UHPMC is independent of DrH*** and cannot be of any assistance to him. UHPMC has billed Mr*** for a cardiac catheterization but this account has been turned over to collecitons.
Contact information for DrH*** is as follows: David H***, MD; *** *** *** *** *** *** ** ***
I would ask that all future concerns related to Mr***'s complaint be referred to DrH***'s office
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention and allowing us the opportunity to respond

Hello ***it looks like we received a payment from *** *** insurance company 4/7/and the patient was sent a statement on 4/28/for for one test that her insurance did not cover, which is not uncommon for the particular testing as many insurance companies do not
cover. Please have the patient call me if she’d like further explanation. Thank you *** *** MBABusiness ManagerLab ServicesEuclid Avenue

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below
No resolution reached Waste of time
Regards,
** ***

From: ECHAN, CATHERINE Date: Fri, Mar 18, at 2:PMSubject: Complaint ID ***To: "[email protected]" Cc: "WILLIAMS, PHYLLIS"
Dear MsLand
In reference to
Complaint ID *** / Al ***, we have reviewed his concern regarding the billing by the physician. Unfortunately, we cannot be of any assistance in this matter. Our billing team researched and could not find any physician-associated bills for this patient. This leads us to believe the bill he is disputing is from an independent physician and not an employed physician of University Hospitals Parma Medical Center Therefore, we would not have access to any of that billing information.
We would be happy to assist further but would need more information before we can direct you to the appropriate party
Best regards,
Catherine Echan, RN
Patient Advocate
Office of Patient Experience
University Hospitals Parma Medical Center
Powers Boulevard
Parma, OH
440-743-
[email protected]

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted].I am glad to hear that University Hospitals has finally acknowledged that the February 16 emergency room co-pay should have been waived and are now writing it off.  I have been contesting this charge since April and am disappointed that it took them four months to finally correct their records.  I would also like to make sure that my complaint remains on the Revdex.com records inasmuch as University Hospitals refused to correct their records in a timely manner and, in fact, sent my account to collection.  I received several telephone calls from collection agencies attempting to collect this amount which, as it turns out, was not due.With regard to the March 1 emergency room co-pay, I disagree with University Hospitals' characterization that my husband was kept two days in the hospital simply for observation.  He was unable to walk and unable to talk.  He received treatment on March 2 and March 3.  Treatment which he could not have received on an outpatient basis due to his condition.  When the claims were submitted to our insurance by the emergency room and the ambulance, both submitted those claims with the notations:  "significant threat to life or function."  At no time was I ever informed that he was being admitted to the hospital for observation.  I was told that he was being admitted in an attempt to determine what was wrong with him, since there was clearly something seriously wrong.  Even though I do not agree with University Hospitals' submission of this claim as "observation," I am paying the $50 co-pay.  I have mailed them a check today.  Again, I would ask that the Revdex.com keep my complaint on file due to University Hospitals' behavior in this regard.Thank you for your assistance.  It is truly appreciated.  This resolution is satisfactory to me.  
Regards,
[redacted]

([redacted]From: [redacted]>Date: Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 7:34 PMSubject: Complaint response for Mr. [redacted]To: [redacted]>Dear Mr. [redacted], I have research the Mr. and Mrs....

[redacted]’s letter questioning $50 copay’s for hospital services provided on February 16th and March 1st 2017.Regarding the February service, Mr. [redacted] was transferred from Parma Medical Center to another UH facility, the $50 ER copay should have been waived. The $50 charge for February service has been written off.  For the March 1 service Mr. [redacted]’s condition did not meet inpatient criteria per CMS guidelines. He was kept in the hospital as Observation status.Observation status claims are submitted as Part B claims which would be subject to applicable copays/coinsurance.  Hospitals are required to follow Medicare medical billing requirements.I apologize for the confusion this has caused Mr. and Mrs. [redacted]. Thank you,[redacted]University Hospitals Revenue Cycle ManagementCustomer Service Center, Rm [redacted]20800 Harvard Rd. Highland Hills, OH 44122 [redacted]