ComplaintsforWooster Community Hospital

• Initial Complaint

  03/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  4 dates in July through October 2023 *************************** was treated on his legs at the ************ at Wooster Community Hospital. They kept saying come back each time for treatment to his legs. We did that with no idea there was a $200 deductible. However, when we started seeing the doctor in his private office for the same treatment the cost was only $35 deductible. The insurance company, Primetime, goes by how it is coded. They coded it as an out patient surgery at the ************ of Wooster Community Hospital. There was no surgeon, no operating room, and he was there about 15 minutes. Is that surgery? They all agree at the hospital (patient advocate, billing, and ************) that I have a valid point but NO ONE will adjust the bill. I have only paid them $35 x 4 for the service. So they turned the bill into a collection agency. I paid the collection agency for two of the times. The problem isn't that we are unable to pay. IT IS NOT FAIR. I told them three weeks ago I was seeking your help as of April 1. I have spoken to them numerous times--all say they have no power to change it but that I have a valid point. I asked them to work together with someone who has the power to get it changed. Early on they could have adjusted the coding--but wouldn't even attempt it. Still nothing. They gave me no notice that they were turning it over to a collection agency. Wooster Community Hospital has won awards and I have been satisfied with their care. However, this billing is UNFAIR. I won't get a survey from them at this late time or I would answer it accordingly. It is difficult to have an exact bill as they give very little description when the bills are mailed or on-line. I have been to billing and it is hard for them to separate the exact bills. I want $660 credit. That is 4 x 200 = $800 Less 35 x 4 (charge at private doctor for same treatment for the legs.

  Business response

  04/01/2024

  Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this complaint.  The copays that were charged to the patient were determined by his insurance policy, and are required to be billed to the patient.  Additionally, The difference between the debridement being performed in a physician office vs the wound center is that our providers are trained in advanced wound care, have access to specialized dressing, and treatment plans (this is not typical of most PCP offices).  I believe this patient was being seen by ************ in the wound center and then only in his office due to the co-pay.   It is true that their podiatry office is able to bill under different codes as compared to an actual wound center.  Wound centers and the services provided are considered outpatient surgery.  *********** is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine and does perform surgeries at the hospital.   Surgery was not needed for this patient, only sharp debridement's.  Not all physicians feel comfortable or want to perform debridement's (or provide wound care) in their private offices and they refer to us.  It just happens that ************ is capable of providing some of these services within his own practice because he also works in our wound center.  

• Initial Complaint

  03/11/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  As a self pay patient of wooster community hospital I would pay my **** after each visit. A month or so after my last visit I started getting bills in the mail. When I called to inquire why I was being charged again they informed me that I had only paid the estimated costs. I was never told when paying the first time that this was just an estimate, plus who does business this way?

  Business response

  04/05/2022

  [[BBB TRANSCRIPTION VIA FWD EMAIL FROM THE BUSINESS]]

  RE: ***** Yoder 

   

  Please accept my apologies for the confusion regarding your estimated payments. There are a few things we are unable to charge you at the office visit as we do not know what these charges will incur. This in your case, included reduction of your fracture and the splint application on your first visit. We also are unable to tell you what the radiologist will **** you for the reading of your x-rays. At each appointment we charged you the office visit and x-rays obtained on that day. You were given a 20% discount each time you paid for these charges. I will work with my staff to educate patients who are self-pay more thoroughly about estimates and charges that *** accrue. 

   

  *********************, LPN

  Practice Manager

  **************************** LLC

  1761 *****************

  Wooster OH  44691

   

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

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

  Part of the Wooster Community Hospital Health System

  

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