ComplaintsforWESTMED Medical Group

• Initial Complaint

  04/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On January 8, 2024, I took my 3 children (***, ****** and *********************) for a sick visit to Westmed Pediatrics. I have a high deductible insurance plan, and when I signed my kids in, I asked for an estimate. The front office said they dont provide estimate and the billing department would do that after the fact. My kids were sick, so I didnt press the matter and figured that the visit cant be more than ******* each, considering this is not a specialist. A few weeks later, I got a huge bill for $596 per child. The bill was itemized into the doctors visit (about $250) and laboratory costs for a flu test (about $350). I did some research and most doctors offices charge a nominal fee upto $30 for such a rapid test. When I asked Westmed billing about it - they told me its just within the guidelines of the American Medical Association and if I had asked them to bill me as self pay, the most I would pay for the entire visit - doctor and test included - would be $275. I told them that I wasnt given the option at the time of visit, and the front desk wouldnt tell me an estimate. The billing team though did not seem to care about this inequity. I tried multiple times to resolve the matter - I messaged them through the portal and asked the doctor if she could help me out, but the billing team did not do anything to address my concerns nor did they adjust the bill.

  Customer response

  05/09/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Westmed - Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/22/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have been receiving numerous texts about unpaid medical bills from a year ago. I have even text them back with proof of payment and still Im getting text about unpaid medical bills. When I try to call the number provided it goes to a different company no even a medical office. The bill states I owe $40 but I paid the bill in August of 2023.

  Customer response

  02/15/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, my complaint, ID ******** regarding Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics has been resolved.
  

  (By clicking "OK", your complaint will be closed as Resolved.)

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

• Initial Complaint

  09/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I am still getting paid for a bill that I paid in the amount of $200 that was paid in two separate payments one for $67 and the other for $133. I have attached the receipt that West med via Summit had received Payment as well as the bank statements that the money was pulled. However, despite emailing all these documents and proof of payment and calling, and speaking to a represent, they are telling me that I did not pay and I know I did because its the same confirmation number. It is the same Dr. I definitely made sure of that just in case to make sure it was the same bill and it was.

  Customer response

  10/12/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  08/07/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Received a bill for a service I did not request nor was I aware the service was being provided. Also left many message via phone and portal and have not heard back from the doctor. A second bill from the same visit was originally taken care of by my doctor but now I am being billed for it again. Essentially I asked a question in which the doctor did not answer, nor did she provide any services or suggest any treatments yet billed me for a second appointment even though this was one single appointment. I cannot contact the doctor, I probably left 10 urgent messages and never receive a call back. I only have one physical bill I can attach.

  Customer response

  09/05/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I was billed $75 for an eye exam for both of my childrens annual physicals on 4/20/2022. Neither of them received an eye exam, which consists of both multiple tests for visual acuity and also examination for disease. Each of my children received a screening, consisting of standing 6ft away from an eye chart and reading one line. Had they failed that screening the doctor would have told ** to get an eye exam, which is further evidence the services rendered was not an exam. The company removed the charge for my son, ***************************, but has refused to remove it for my daughter, *******************************. I have been regularly calling since last June. They are using this screening bill in an attempt to collect money for services they didnt provide. I would like the charge removed from my bill.

  Customer response

  05/15/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics regarding complaint ID ********. They continue to bill me for this service. The most recent bill was dated May 7 and is attached. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I had a surgery to remove my breast implants back on Aug 22, 2022 as ordered by my doctor who works at West Med at **** in Purchase because I was having complications. My insurance covers my surgery 100%. I received a bill from West Med/Athena Health for over $800 dollars. I called my insurance ********** Blue Shield who told me that they paid at 100% and that ************ is coding their bill incorrectly. They have it listed as multiple surgeries. I then called ************ when the bill came in in October 2022 and spoke with their customer service rep a man who said his name was ******* and he said he would speak to their coding department and that I should have a resolution within 2 weeks. Again, I heard nothing had to call back in November and spoke with a customer service representative ********* who said that ******* no longer works for ************ and that he would take care of this and would have this resolved within 10 days. January rolls around and I receive a notice that it is going to collections. I tried to call back on several occasions and had to call back a few times because I couldn't get through do to "high call volume." I spoke again to customer service rep ****** on Jan. ******* who said that she looked into my case and, "saw nothing has been done with the prior two calls and that she would escalate my situation with the coding department to get this resolved. I asked her to speak to a manager because I keep getting no where with this billing department. She told me that a manager would only tell me the same thing and now someone would get this resolved within 20 to 48 hours. I am getting no where with this billing department who is taking advantage of people's health care and threatening bill collections.

• Initial Complaint

  01/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  it is about Westmed Medical group billing dept.for my wife ********* and I, we paid several small amounts in 2022 to Westmed using our Cigna / Instamed system. Westmed kept sending us a request to pay. I called many times and sent 20 emails or so with all proofs of payment including my bank statements. they never came back to us and now put us in collections.it is the most outrageous thing I've seen. no one in 11 months looked at any of my emails even I called many people. results are null. 2022 was the worst year for Westmed and we have been patients for 18 years.

  Customer response

  01/20/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I made an annual exam appointment to see a doctor at Westmed. I was charged for seeing three doctors and called my insurance company and they removed the third charge for a doctor I never saw during my visit. There remained three charges totaling close to $700 for the same 10 minute visit. Westmed is claiming that the visit involved more than annual exam issues, never disclosed that there would be additional charges and added items I did not wish to have addressed and specially said I did not wish to address. I complained to several Westmed offices and believe it was unfair and deceptive that I was charged for more than what I scheduled and anticipated my visit to cost.

  Customer response

  11/25/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  09/19/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  This complaint is regarding my daughters visit to the ************, ** Westmed facility on 12/14/21. According to the many representatives I have spoken to at Horizon BC/BS, Westmeds billing service is sending the $415.00 claim to an incorrect address, therefore this claim never gets paid. I have attached a letter I have sent to Westmed (which they received) and they have not corrected this error despite MANY MANY phone called to Westmeds billing department and to Horizon BC/BS. All correspondence and emails I have sent to Westmed have be completely ignored, zero response. Someone please hold this facility accountable! I do not want my daughter to go into collections over this unpaid bill that I have spent 9 MONTHS trying to get corrected! I have been on conference calls with a Westmed representative named ***** and a Horizon BC/BS representative and the Westmed rep assured me this claim would be filed correctly and has not been done! I am furious!

  Customer response

  10/13/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics regarding complaint ID ********.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************
  

• Initial Complaint

  08/31/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I saw *************************************** ** on Friday January 28th. I told the office i had ******************************** and they confirmed they accept that insurance. I had my annual physical and another sonogram. I was told the bill would be submit to my insurance. I subsequently received 3 different bills for the full amount, $929. I called the office, they apologized and said it had not been submitted. That they would rectify the matter. I received three more bills and a notice saying my balance would be sent to a collections agency if not paid. I paid the bill out of pocket. I then tried calling billing 4 more times only to be put on hold for hours, or hung up on. I eventually got in touch with Dr *********** office manager who promised she would fix the problem, that the bill had been submitted to NY ********** instead of CT. That was in June. It is now nearly September. I have called back six times only to be told nobody is in and to leave a message. I am out of pocket $929 of medical service that my insurance covers. They clearly have no intent of refunding my this money. I have resubmit the bill to my insurance only to be denied because of the way WestMed has submit their claim. I called again today and was told again to leave a message, that would be labeled urgent but nobody has called me back. This business (according to ****** reviews) appears to have many many billing issues. If someone here could help me recoop this money from WestMed (who has now been paid by both me and insurance it appears) I would be very thankful.

  Customer response

  09/24/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  At this time, I have not been contacted by Eye Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Pediatrics regarding complaint ID ********. But the complaint I lodged is against WestMed medical group OBGYN department. The doctor I saw is ******************************************************** and the office number is ************. They are located at ********************************************** in *********. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************
  

*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. ↩