In the mail today came a bill via a collections agency. Yes, I was sent to collections by St Vincent Pathology Medical Group which does my lab work about three times a year at St Vincent Hospital in downtown Los Angeles where I had my kidney and pancreas transplant. It's not a big bill. Just $146. The collections agency added on a charge of 20-cents.
Why am I writing this? Because this is the SECOND TIME this year that St. Vincent Pathology Medical Group sends my bills to collections WITHOUT SENDING ME A BILL.
St Vincent Pathology Medical Group does bill my insurance and yes, my insurance pays them the appropriate amount, and then the balance is for me to pay. That is the $146. But St. Vincent Pathology never sent ME a bill. After they settle with my insurance company it seems their next course of action is to send my account to collections.
This same thing happened earlier this year -- NO bill from St Vincent Patholgy but I did get a bill from their collections agency and I PAID IT. No questions on my part. But now it's happened A SECOND TIME.
What's going on St Vincent Pathology Medical Group? You can't send ME a bill? And after my insurance pays you your next course of action is to send my account to collections? I am sure that part of your costs are reflected in the fees you pay your collections agency. Well, here's an idea: send me a bill directly, which I will gladly pay, and save yourself some fees and help hold down the cost of healthcare in America.
The bill from the collections agency arrived today, Saturday, when the office was closed St Vincent Pathology Medical Group, so I will be calling you St. Vincent Pathology Medical Group during your regular office hours this coming week to ask you WHY you can't send me a bill directly? And don't tell me you don't have my address. Every time I go to the hospital to have my blood work my mailing address is verified.
I wonder how much YOU increase the cost of healthcare in this country?