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When the Crazy Medical Stuff Turns to Money Stuff...
So if you read my PP a few weeks ago, you know that I was at a general OB/GYN and then recently swapped to a GYN specialist for my health problem. As they always do...the bills are rolling in...
We have great HI with DH's job and we have a HSA too that has roughly $2,500 in it. I am beginning to pay the bills and I am fine doing so...I got a service from the doctors and I now owe them for what my HI does not cover.
Anyway, I have the listing of bills from the first OB/GYN. I have neither the time nor the energy to put up a big fight on things, but in talking with the health insurance rep, she suggested that I could dispute the ultrasound charges with the OB/GYN office since they missed 2 significant problems with my uterus (adneomyosis and that the overall size of my uterus is 2/3 larger than it is supposed to be due to this disease).
With the adneomyosis, I can see how they may miss something like that as it's more of a GYN "specialty" and I was having an OB/GYN tech do the ultrasound who is most likely more familiar with babies on the screen. BUT, shouldn't the tech and the doctor have caught that my uterus is 2/3 larger than it's supposed to be? When they do ultrasounds, they measure the size of the uterus! Did they miss this or did they ignore it (obviously, we'll never know)? And, due to their negligence, should I have to pay for the procedure?
Opinions? Should I fight this charge? Or, am I out to lunch? And, is there anyone here who has disputed medical charges due to medical error and come out successful? I should add that I have cut all ties with the practice, so I don't need to deal with them aside from billing. We're talking about $300+.
Thanks.
ETA: Oh, and if there's anyone here who is an OB/GYN ultrasound tech or knows one can you weigh in? Should the tech/doctor have known and seen the size of my uterus? I think the second ultrasound tech who spotted the 2 problems (adneomyosis and overall size) said that my uterus is 103 cm and it should be 60 cm.
Re: When the Crazy Medical Stuff Turns to Money Stuff...
Maybe it's not routine to do that measurement unless the doctor requests it? However my thought says any good ultrasound tech would notice that and include that information in the report for the doctor...
I also vote for disputing the bill. If nothing else, they will probably at least reduce it.
I've often negotiated with doctor's offices, though usually before service has been rendered.
I did once have a doctor I saw run my lab work in their own office. One of the tests came back "inconclusive" and I told them...politely, but didn't ask them...I would not pay for that test. They told me okay and didn't fight me on it.
And I ALWAYS negotiate with hospitals and ambulance companies, especially since those have always been occasions when I was unexpectedly brought to the ER. Stuff like I'll offer to pay the bill in full, if they cut it in half. That seems to be a good offer as the response I get is they are usually falling all over themselves to take me up on it. I suspect, if it is not through insurance, those entities never get paid.
Fight the charge, a good tech should would disclose any abnormalities. I went in for an Ultrasound for what my doctor thought was a kidney stone. He wanted to determine the location and size of it. They didn't find a kidney stone but instead found a large cyst on my ovary. They weren't even asked to look at that part of my body, but it showed up so they disclosed it and I got the proper treatment for my pain.
Them not checking into that almost cost you thousands and lots of pain from a surgery that wasn't necessary and then the possibility of a second surgery for the proper procedure.