Medical billing

[NeilTheCop]

What is the name of your state? New Mexico.
Not sure if this is the correct place to post as it's medical related but not malpractice.
A few weeks ago the wife had an uncontrollable cough. Not the normal cough but the sort where you worry if she's about to cough up an internal organ. Took her to the hospital where after waiting over an hour the doctor took about 30 seconds to diagnose that she had the flu and gave her a prescription for a cough medication.
We got the bill from the hospital for $7,011.00. Fortunately Medicare picked up most of it and we paid the rest.
Last Monday we got a separate bill for $1,636.00 where again Medicare picked up most of it.
The second bill does not show what it's for, no breakdown whatsoever just, "you owe us". The other thing is the only option to pay is to mail part of the invoice after giving all my credit card details including the CV2 security number on the back.
Went to their web site as there was no contact phone number on the invoice. The site gives an option to fill out an ask a question form, which I did but have so far not received a response. Again no address or phone number for the company on the web site.
The bill could be legit because they got the date when we went to the hospital correct and part of their reference number is made up of the wife's date of birth.

Now the question; If this bill does turn out to be legit, can a company demand payment only by credit card or is there some legislation that gives me the legal right to pay by cash or check if I so choose.

 

[ajkroy]

Check to see if you received more than one Explanation of Medicare Benefits (EOMB) from Medicare. It is not unusual for a patient to be billed by the facility and by the provider separately. The EOMB(s) will tell you what you have to pay. If you do not receive any from Medicare, go online or call the number on your card.

Does your wife have a secondary insurance? If so, this should go to that insurance first before you pay it.

Once you have determined if it is your responsibility to pay, contact the hospital and ask them about the bill. Find out if you have other options to pay (I expect they will allow you to pay with any legal tender).

Good luck.

 

[LdiJ]

Check to see if you received more than one Explanation of Medicare Benefits (EOMB) from Medicare. It is not unusual for a patient to be billed by the facility and by the provider separately. The EOMB(s) will tell you what you have to pay. If you do not receive any from Medicare, go online or call the number on your card.

Does your wife have a secondary insurance? If so, this should go to that insurance first before you pay it.

Once you have determined if it is your responsibility to pay, contact the hospital and ask them about the bill. Find out if you have other options to pay (I expect they will allow you to pay with any legal tender).

Good luck.

I agree, but both of those bills were extremely high for just a quick exam by a doctor.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

You clearly haven't been in an ER lately.

 

[justalayman]

Check to see if you received more than one Explanation of Medicare Benefits (EOMB) from Medicare. It is not unusual for a patient to be billed by the facility and by the provider separately. The EOMB(s) will tell you what you have to pay. If you do not receive any from Medicare, go online or call the number on your card.

Does your wife have a secondary insurance? If so, this should go to that insurance first before you pay it.

Once you have determined if it is your responsibility to pay, contact the hospital and ask them about the bill. Find out if you have other options to pay (I expect they will allow you to pay with any legal tender).

Good luck.

If the wife has other insurance, it’s possible the bills should have gone to them first. The rules on coordination of coverage determine who is primary and who is secondary. We have no information here to be able to determine anything about the involvement of other coverage or even that there is other coverage.

 

[ajkroy]

Agreed, justalayman. I made the mistake of assuming Medicare was primary when it easily may not have been.

 

[Taxing Matters]

Now the question; If this bill does turn out to be legit, can a company demand payment only by credit card or is there some legislation that gives me the legal right to pay by cash or check if I so choose.

There is no law, federal or state, that says a business must allow you to pay by cash or check. However, if the requirement to pay by credit card was not made as part of the contract when you entered into it then you may satisfy the obligation by making a tender of cash. The business cannot after the fact restrict your payment options to a credit card.

 

[NeilTheCop]

There is no law, federal or state, that says a business must allow you to pay by cash or check. However, if the requirement to pay by credit card was not made as part of the contract when you entered into it then you may satisfy the obligation by making a tender of cash. The business cannot after the fact restrict your payment options to a credit card.

My contract was with the local hospital, who got paid by check. I have no idea who this new company is and have signed no other contracts.
I tried to send a registered letter to the address on the invoice, which was a Florida P.O. Box but the post office wouldn't take it as the P.O.Box didn't exist.
It's just odd that if they only accept credit cards then many Americans, who don't/won't have credit cards cannot pay their bill.
I know some cities have passed or are passing legislation against cashless retail stores but I was just wondering if there were already laws in place against, for want of a better phrase, financial discrimination.

 

[NeilTheCop]

I agree, but both of those bills were extremely high for just a quick exam by a doctor.

I was an outpatient for my hernia surgery. Took about an hour for the operation and the bill was $42,000. Get separate bills for the surgeon and the anesthetist.

 

[NeilTheCop]

If the wife has other insurance, it’s possible the bills should have gone to them first. The rules on coordination of coverage determine who is primary and who is secondary. We have no information here to be able to determine anything about the involvement of other coverage or even that there is other coverage.

Medicare is all we have, no other insurance

 

[justalayman]

My contract was with the local hospital, who got paid by check. I have no idea who this new company is and have signed no other contracts.
I tried to send a registered letter to the address on the invoice, which was a Florida P.O. Box but the post office wouldn't take it as the P.O.Box didn't exist.
It's just odd that if they only accept credit cards then many Americans, who don't/won't have credit cards cannot pay their bill.
I know some cities have passed or are passing legislation against cashless retail stores but I was just wondering if there were already laws in place against, for want of a better phrase, financial discrimination.

tjats a poor position to argue from. All hospitals I have dealt with include in your contract for services that there may be services provided by an entity not employed by the hospital and they will bill separately.

The only credit card issue is concerning. I would be hesitant to pay it at all without some proof it is a valid bill. From your description it does sound a bit scammy.

 

[justalayman]

How long ago was the hospital visit?

How long ago did you get the eob about the additional services?

My thoughts are that maybe it’s a debt collector. Bills get turned over to them pretty quick sometimes.

 

[NeilTheCop]

How long ago was the hospital visit?

How long ago did you get the eob about the additional services?

My thoughts are that maybe it’s a debt collector. Bills get turned over to them pretty quick sometimes.

My surgery was about 3 weeks ago and the invoice came in the mail last Monday.
The letterhead is from Axxxxx Health (I witheld the name in case admin considered it advertising)

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state? New Mexico.
Not sure if this is the correct place to post as it's medical related but not malpractice.
A few weeks ago the wife had an uncontrollable cough. Not the normal cough but the sort where you worry if she's about to cough up an internal organ. Took her to the hospital where after waiting over an hour the doctor took about 30 seconds to diagnose that she had the flu and gave her a prescription for a cough medication.
We got the bill from the hospital for $7,011.00. Fortunately Medicare picked up most of it and we paid the rest.
Last Monday we got a separate bill for $1,636.00 where again Medicare picked up most of it.
The second bill does not show what it's for, no breakdown whatsoever just, "you owe us". The other thing is the only option to pay is to mail part of the invoice after giving all my credit card details including the CV2 security number on the back.
Went to their web site as there was no contact phone number on the invoice. The site gives an option to fill out an ask a question form, which I did but have so far not received a response. Again no address or phone number for the company on the web site.
The bill could be legit because they got the date when we went to the hospital correct and part of their reference number is made up of the wife's date of birth.

Now the question; If this bill does turn out to be legit, can a company demand payment only by credit card or is there some legislation that gives me the legal right to pay by cash or check if I so choose.

You can send a check.

 

[justalayman]

My surgery was about 3 weeks ago and the invoice came in the mail last Monday.
The letterhead is from Axxxxx Health (I witheld the name in case admin considered it advertising)

Well, I would hope it wasn’t sold to a debt collector that quickly. Heck, that is quick for the eobs.

Since you can’t seem to contact the billing entity, I would contact the hospital and ask them about the issue. They may have contact info or they may be able to help you determine if the bill is from a legitimate entity.