And You Goofed Up Again

Dear Billing Girl at Dr. Ogden's Office,

I am not paying for the $97 office visit that you billed incorrectly. As I told in you Feb, I get one free preventative care visit per year. If you billed the insurance correctly, like the eye doctor, gynecologist, and pediatrician's offices are all able to do, then the insurance would pay 100% of the approved amount. It is not my fault that you are incompetent.

I will pay for the lab fees despite the fact that I requested that you use LabCorp, my preferred provider. My labs would have cost a fraction of what I will be paying, if I have stuck to my guns on that. But I was the one that said you could do it in office, so I'll pay for those.

That being said, it is not very nice to bill me in Feb, have me contest the bill and never rebill the insurance or me, then send a notice in late May saying that my bill is dangerously overdue. As I told you in your office several months ago, I will be waiting for a new bill to come after you rebill the insurance company.

It is beyond rude to threaten me with collections when you are the one who hasn't fulfilled your side of the bargain. It is also not my fault that someone at your office got excited with the "9" button and stuck two of them in my address where only one exists. This only goes to further prove your incompetence.

If you can not get this figured out, then obviously, I'll never return as a patient. Billing practices of a doctor's office are an important part of the doctor patient relationship.

PS I will need a statement in writing that says you won't send me to collections while you await the insurance company's payment.