ComplaintsforWashington Hospital Center

• Initial Complaint

  03/25/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I am writing to you regarding the billing issues I have with the Date of Service of November 29, 2022. In June, my primary physician with Medstar didn’t recommend that I have a ******** screening conducted due to the accuracy of the test. However, since I am of the recommended age for the test, I decided to make an appointment with another Medstar doctor to get the test completed. Originally, I made an appointment with Dr. ******* at his Mitchellville, MD location for October 10, 2022 . On October 4, 2022 his office called to reschedule the appointment since he wasn’t available on that day. They mentioned that the only appointment that can be scheduled in lieu of the televisit, would be at Medstar Hospital Center. Therefore, an appointment was made for November 29, 2022. Prior to that appointment, I had multiple conversations with Dr. *******’s office in addition to the billing department in regard to what will be billed since I had so much trouble with Medstar billing. All I was told is that it would be an office visit, since I am a new patient. I was confused as to why that would be since everyone is a new patient at some point. Making matters worse I was later billed for a hospital visit for the November 29, 2022 date of service. What I am complaining about is that at no time during the month of conversations with the office before the appointment or during was I informed of the hospital visit charge. I even asked the nurse practitioner who came in the exam room that day what I would be charged. Her only response was “******** Screening”. Further, the financial paperwork signed doesn’t make any mention of a hospital visit charge. I have seen several doctors at Medstar hospitals and this is the 1st time I have charged a hospital fee for a regular visit. Any that I have received such a charge would be pertaining to a procedure such as with the radiology department on December 2, 2022, which is understandable. But everyone swears I did sign the proper paperwork and was informed after several conversations with Medstar representatives. A representative of Medstar’s billing office even had the audacity to tell me I should have asked. On the evening of February 13, 2023, after a conversation with one of Medstar’s billing representatives, was the 1st instance in which I felt like I was being heard. There a Medstar billing representative mentioned that she didn’t see any signed paperwork in relation to a hospital visit. To be honest with you, if I had known all of this was going to happen I would have made an appointment with another provider or better with a doctor outside of Medstar. I didn’t get a chance to decline the appointment once I was there since I was unaware. Because if so, I most certainly would have walked out of the office. It is almost like being at a restaurant and finding out about a charge on the bill which I have heard so much about on the news.

  Business response

  04/10/2023

  Good afternoon,

  Patient Relations has received the complaint. It will now be reviewed and assigned to a Specialist for resolution. Please allow 15-30 business days for final resolution. 

  Thank you,

  *********************

  Patient Experience Navigator

  Office of Patient Relations

  MedStar Washington Hospital Center

  ************

  Business response

  04/19/2023

  This writer spoke with patient to discuss concerns. Patient confirmed concerns were addressed and resolved by the billing department. Patient's fees were waived. Therefore, this case is closed. 

  Thank you,

  Office of Patient Relations

  MedStar Washington Hospital Center

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩