Unexpected charges from my RE

Mayzie15

I just received a third party bill for $400 from my ER. Apparently while I was sedated a polyp or something similar and small was removed and sent to pathology without my knowledge and this is the bill I just received. I just had my hysteroscopy not long ago and had a polyp removed under my insurance co-pay. All our IVF is OOP. This bill comes after a 2k bill we didnt expect for ICSI and another bill for $1,600 for cryo and storage fees - these were never discussed with us. I've called and spoke to the financial coordinator who told me if I don't want to pay the bill it's my credit. She's lovely to deal with. She also told me I should be grateful to pay the cryo fees with my history they never saw me having any frozen embryos. She also mentioned we are lucky to see my RE and lucky to possibly be pregnant again...REALLY? I don't understand why someone with no sensitivity would do this job. I canceled my U/S appt with them tomorrow and managed to get another one with my OB to see if there is a heartbeat. I've told my husband I refuse to step foot in that clinic again. Am I overreacting? WWYD?

imoverit

Umm what??? This is ridiculous. You are not over reacting at all. Id be livid. They did a procedure without consulting you or your husband since you were out and the only way you hear about it is through a bill. And whats up with the crabby lady. She should not be part of such a sensitive business. No way would I go back either. Im sorry this happened. Hope your appt with OB goes well. Screw that RE office.

Robeano

Wow!! That's horrible?! Can they legally do a procedure without your consent?

I agree with your decision.

Also to my ultrasound buddy good luck today!!!

ccam

That was completely uncalled for and unprofessional, I'd be livid, too!  I don't blame you for canceling your appointment.  I wonder if there is someone you can talk to about your experience with her.  

kmc84

I would be very upset too. Did you actually read your consent forms when you signed them? It would be highly unusually for it not to say something about taking appropriate measures if something unexpected was encountered. If your getting any kind of scope done and they find a poly, you can be sure it's getting biopsied.

That said, it does sound like they billed wrong. There should be a way for them to bill that so it gets covered by your insurance as a GYN procedure.

As for the B in the finance dept, she sounds like she needs some sensitivity training (at the least)!

mnj05

Even if the procedure was done legally, they should have spoken to you about it before releasing you that day. You don't remove something from someone to be biopsied, then not speak of it at all.

Nurse also needs a talking to. She does not have the right to tell you why you should be happy to pay a bill or that you're lucky at all. I would've hung up on her, there's no way I could deal with that.

kmc84

mnj05 said:

Even if the procedure was done legally, they should have spoken to you about it before releasing you that day. You don't remove something from someone to be biopsied, then not speak of it at all

Yes, this! Sorry, I meant to say this too!

Mayzie15

@ccam it's a smaller clinic with one doctor and his staff. Unfortunately all his staff is new to us during this cycle. His old staff we loved and was one of the reasons we came back. We have expressed our concerns to him - in a nice way he has explained that he knows they are new but thinks they are good at what they do. I haven't even bothered to call him.

@ Robeano I've been thinking about you too - I hope you get to hear the heartbeat - I will be looking for your update

@kmc84 - I've read all our consents nothing states anything about removing something during my ER while I'm sedated - even for an emergency purpose. The finance coordinator did explain that by law anything removed needs to go to pathology and I should be grateful my results were good - glad she told me my results instead of my doctor.

I have three frozen embryos there and the financial coordinator told me "just send us the paperwork & we will send them wherever you want". I'm sure there's a fee for this too. I feel so unsure about this pregnancy because of my betas not doubling - that I wouldn't even know where to cycle if we needed to again. As for the bill I've paid it this morning - I'm not willing to have it ruin my credit.

Thanks ladies for all your feedback on this one

blueberries8

You are rightfully upset. Can they code it differently so insurance will pay the fee for the polyp removal/biopsy? Also, why does the financial coordinator have access to your medical info? I would absolutely leave the practice and write a detailed letter to your RE explaining why. I would guess you are far from the first person to have a run-in with the nasty financial coordinator. Sending good vibes your way for the u/s.

Mrs.AmyDylan

Fx for your u/s! We got a bill from the RE about 6mo after J was born!! It was craziness. Since it was around $100, we eventually just paid since it wasn't worth the time. But I called and they were pretty nasty.

chicagobride_07

I am so sorry that you are going through this. You had referenced them sending your remaining frosties elsewhere. As you guessed, there is likely a fee for this (I've been quoted 300 to 500), so definitely double check so you have no more surprises.