Jun 24, 2009 4:49 pm US/Pacific
Call Kurtis: Incorrect Treatment Over Her Bill
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Michelle Millard says she doesn't owe Catholic Healthcare West a dime. But they've sent her to collections for $61.43.
"I mean I'm hitting a brick wall. I don't know what else to do. I mean obviously that's why I called you guys."
Her insurance company Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee approved the doctor she saw in November. Catholic Healthcare West which bills for her doctor charged $173.00 for the service. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee only paid $111.57. But under their agreement CHW is supposed to write off the difference. But Michelle says CHW isn't listening and still wants that $61.43.
"If you can get anyone to answer and that's a big if because most likely you'll get a full voicemail box. It's full, you can't talk to anybody. You can't leave a message and that's extremely frustrating."
At one point she says Catholic Healthcare West told her to prove she doesn't owe anything. So she sent them something called an explanation of benefits, showing she's fully covered under her insurance. But CHW is still after her and she says this isn't the first time. She's run in to similar billing issues with them.
"When it's an ongoing occurrence like this, you tend to wonder what's going on."
The p practice of stiffing a patient with a bill because a doctor and insurance company don't agree on a fair price for the service is called balance billing. California banned the practice in October.
We called Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee which confirms CHW shouldn't be charging her anything. We then called Catholic Healthcare West. They deny its balance billing but instead told us;
"A computer error has affected a limited number of patients. We have I-T people working on resolving this matter as quickly as possible."
Michelle's bill has now been cleared, but she still has a concern.
"More than anything at this point I really want other people to be looking at their bills. I think it's really important for people to pay attention to what you're billed for. It may not be your liability."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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