Weight Loss Institute of Arizona

BEWARE!!!! These doctors are a big scammers. The way that they have their billing setup, they commit insurance fraud and double dip from your pocket. When they booked the appointment over the phone with me, I asked how much I would have to pay for the Lap-Band procedure and they told me that they most that I would pay is my $300 deductible and after that I would pay 20% of the bill with an out-of-pocket maximum of $2,000 including my deductible, but they would go over all the details in my appointment. They told me that it would be less because they have a contracted rate with my insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ) so it wouldn't be the same as the cash price of $9,900. I went for a new patient consult and found out that they only have one of the surgeons, out of all of the WLIAZ's surgeons, contracted with my insurance and that they would need a $1,250 retainer fee for the Assistant Surgeon which is another surgeon in the same practice. They do this so they can bill for the Assistant Surgeon as an out-of-network provider which is another deductible of $900 and 60% of the bill with a total of $4,000 out-of-pocket maximum. Rhonda, the finance person at WLIAZ, tried to tell me that my insurance would be fine with me paying only the $1,250 and that they would cover the rest of the out-of-network provider cost. She told me that I would have to pay a total of $3,250, which is wrong. I reported these doctors to my insurance company and they are going to investigate the situation. I was born at night but it wasn't last night. Stay far away from this company!!!!

Review: The Weight Loss Institute of Arizona after reviewing my health care insurance weeks in advance gave me an appointment with a doctor and did in office medical and lab tests the were out-of-network. This resulted in no insurance coverage at all for doctor visit, medical and lab test. Being out in-network also resulted in medical cost tests not an insurance negotiated cost and billed at full cost. Weight Loss Institute of Arizona had and still has a doctor in-network and the medical and lab tests could have easily done at an in-network facilities. The office visit was scheduled weeks in advance with assurance of insurance coverage and plenty of time to work out in-network/in-network insurance issues. Have written office many letters via email with no response. I have an emails to back up my assertions.Desired Settlement: Adjust the costs to match [redacted] negotiated cost for office visit, medical and lab tests done during my appointment.

Business

Response:

RE: COMPLAINT ID #[redacted]The Weight Loss Institute of Arizona, LLC prides itself first and foremost in its patient care. We are a multi-physician practice who’s 40 plus employees dedicate themselves to make the experience of weight loss not just an achievable goal, but a pleasant one. With this dedication, our crack finance team works diligently with the patient to make sure all in network and out of network questions are answered long before any financial commitment is made & we always place our patients with the best physician for the patients needs, regardless of insurance contract status. The Weight Loss Institute, LLC has taken its years of experience dealing with out of network issues and created a series of financial safety nets for the patient so that we can provide them not just excellent weight loss, but also do it without breaking their budget. These safeguards include our charity care program that can allow up to a 95% discounted fees after insurance payments. It’s with this commitment and safeguards that we dealt with this patient’s medical & financial issues. The Weight Loss Institute, LLC not only gave this patient the best possible surgeon and care at our disposal, we also worked with him to lower his out of pocket cost by 50% using our charity care program, we spoke to his insurance company about lowering his deductible because both his in and out-of-network deductible was considerably high. We also wrote off the diet portion of his visit because his insurance did not consider it a covered benefit. While there was some cost to the patient, The Weight Loss Institute of Arizona, LLC did not receive any payment for services from the insurance company and worked closely with the patient to lower his bill to the minimum rate allowed. We do appreciate this patient’s feedback and look forward to having him back for more excellent services at any of our six centers around the valley and Tucson. Sincerely,[redacted]Office Manager WEIGHT LOSS INSTITUTE OF ARIZONA[redacted]

Review: In 2012, I attended a free seminar put on by the Weight Loss Institute of Arizona in their West Valley location. At that time, they collected my information and scheduled a follow up appointment a few days later. In the follow up appointment, I was informed that I qualified to be a candidate for the Lap Band procedure and had been pre-approved by their staff and my insurance company with the stipulation that I would be fully covered and have "zero" out of pocket expense if I agreed to have the procedure performed at their Tempe, AZ location rather than the West Valley location. I proceeded to enter into the pre-op program attending classes and mental health screening which was all done in the Tempe location. Again it was confirmed that there would be "zero" out of pocket expense for my procedure. During the pre-op period, I took a job transfer and relocated to Fort Worth, Texas, still maintaining contact with the Tempe clinic and returning to Arizona in September of 2013 to have the procedure performed at the Tempe location, and again, confirming that everything was covered and I would have "zero" out of pocket expense for the procedure. After numerous invoices for services of which I called the Tempe billing department eveytime one would arrive, I was informed that this is very normal with insurance companies and I had nothing to worry about and yes, I would have "zero" out of pocket expense for my procedure. Fast forward to August 28, 2015 I receive an invoice for $137,500.00 with a note stating that I am responsible for the charges as the insurance company I had during the time of the procedure has refused my claim, the same claim that had been pre-approved and the same claim that I had been reassured on multiple occasions that would entail “zero” out of pocket expense. As I told WLIA at the time of the initial presentation, I could not afford the procedure, but they kept insisting that it would not cost me anything as the insurance would cover it in full. WLIA was paid by my insurance company over $10,000.00 for pre-op services provided in January of 2013.Desired Settlement: Billing being reversed to a zero balance as originally agreed upon.

Beware the Weight Loss Institute of AZ run by Dr. [redacted] and Dr. [redacted]. They own a surgery center along with the practice which because of that is almost alwways considered out of network. However they will not tell you its out of network nor tell you the options you have that are in network. I didnt find out until I got the bill from my insurance. When I questioned this I was told they always schedule there because its easier for them. Another term for this practice is fraud. Medical Offices are required by law to inform you if there is an in-network doctor and medical center for you to go to so you do not have to pay the 20% copay. I have been blown off by 4 different people now including the owner of the company stating he doesnt have time to deal with my problem. I thought they cared but in the end they are nothing more then another medical company just trying to make money.

I had a coworker that went to The Weight Loss Institute of Arizona (WLIA) and had told me great things. I called and got an appointment right away to get in and discuss my options. I spoke to [redacted] the onsite dietician, and to [redacted] and decided that the [redacted] was right for me. They walked me through the entire process. Due to insurance ([redacted]) I had to change [redacted] did my [redacted] surgery and 2 years later - 90 pounds down! He has been one of my biggest supporters! I absolutely recommend them!

I was very happy with all the staff at the WFLIAZ except [redacted]. He is very grouchy and not very nice. They decided sometime in the last year that instead of doing one surgery to fix a hernia and the weight loss proceedure in one surgery, they have now split it into 2 surgeries whereas they are making alot more money and there is alot more recouperation time involved. When questioning [redacted] as to why my surgery went from 1 to 2 surgeries he became enraged and yelled at me. The entire staff heard him as well as patients waiting in the waiting room. He is rude and mean and has no tolerance to this question. I see it as a way for them to make double money with double proceedures. You can check with any other weight loss center or surgeon in the state or other states and this WLI of AZ is the only one who does this. The rich get richer. I had to back out of my surgery after he was angry and had originally told me I had to lose 20 lbs before the surgery and in anger he added an additonal 35 lbs" before he would touch me". His staff is great. He is mean and grouchy and just making money is the focus. I was devistated at his behavior to me.

I am a new patient with WLIAZ. I have had 3 separate appointments with them in preparation for the VSG and have to say they seem to treat me well. I had a little bit of a hard time getting ahold of them for some questions but once I got ahold of them they were very friendly. Dr. Orris is going to be the one to do the procedure for me and after meeting with him he seems to be very nice and informal. Answering any and all my questions the best he could to make me understand everything. At this time I have to say I'm pleased with all my services so far and hoping it continues throughout my whole journey.