Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. 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.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/10/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I had a procedure in October of 2022. Northstar Anesthesia provided anesthesia services during this procedure. At the time I had the procedure I had already satisfied my deductible and max out of pocket with my insurance company and bore no further financial responsibility for covered procedures and services. I began receiving bills from Northstar for a balance remaining on services provided this year. Upon examination it appeared that Northstar had billed my insurance company initially and was denied due to using the wrong billing code and violating surprise billing laws. They refiled after making adjustments and my insurance paid them. They are now billing me for the difference on the bill that my insurance denied. I reached out to Northstar on Feb 23 and was assured that they would take care of the issue. I am still receiving emails from them saying that I have a bill due. I believe that they are attempting to bypass surprise billing laws and get me to pay for services for which they have already been paid or which my insurance had denied.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/15/2023

  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has contacted the individual about the complaint. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at *************************************** and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/04/2023

  The business reached out to me and assured me that they would refile with my insurance and also make sure that I no longer received bills via mail or email from them attempting to collect the remaining balance. However, I am still receiving emails from the business attempting to collect a balance that I DO NOT OWE. As outlined in the original complaint, I met my out of pocket and deductible prior to the services being performed and my insurance denied their claim as it violated surprise billing laws. NorthStar is still attempting to collect despite knowing that their activities are illegal and that I owe them nothing, regardless what my insurance pays them. I do not accept this matter as resolved, and will not unless I receive acknowledgement from them in writing that I do not owe them any money and all attempts to collect money cease.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/08/2023

  I have not heard from the business since the last communication I sent to the BBB. I have not received any emails or bills this month, but I also have not received anything from the business stating that the matter is settled and that I do not owe them further payment. From my perspective the business has failed to deal with this situation in a satisfactory way and I believe that the complaint should remain open until they do what is right.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/13/2023

  To protect the consumers personal information, NorthStar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. NorthStar directly contacted the individual about the complaint to achieve a desired resolution. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact NorthStar at *************************************** and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/19/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  NorthStar provide anesthesia services for my hand surgery on April 15, 2022. My insurance paid their share and I was billed the remaining amount of $122.21. I paid $122.21 online on August 8, 2022, through the patient portal. In late August I received a paper bill and mailed a check payment in the amount of $122.21. Within a day of mailing the check I realized I had already paid my outstanding balance and immediately contacted NorthStar customer billing support. I was told I would be issued a refund check in 1-2 months. When I did not receive the refund within the 1-2 month time frame, I called customer support again. I was again informed a refund check would be issued in 1-2 months. As of today, 12/19/2022, I have yet to receive the refund of my overpayment.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/22/2022

  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has attempted to contact the individual about the complaint to inform them the desired resolution is complete. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at *************************************** and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 12/23/2022

  (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
  NorthStar Customer support reached out to me by phone on 12/22/22 and left a voice mail message indicating that a refund check had been processed and would be mailed to me shortly. They also apologized for the delay in addressing this issue.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/30/2023

  As a result of my original complaint in December 2023, I received a voice mail message from North Star Anesthesia stating they were mailing me a refund of the overpayment on my account.
  
  When I had not received the refund by mid-January, 2023, I contacted North Star again and I was told additional research would be needed and someone would get back with me. I've yet to hear back.
  
  As of today, January 30th, I have NOT received the refund.

  Business Response

  Date: 03/15/2023

  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has attempted to contact the individual about the complaint. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at *************************************** and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/16/2023

  (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
  I finally received the refund check and was able to cash/deposit funds on 02/20/2023, which resolved my complaint.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/08/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Received a bill from NorthStar Anes ************************************************* Dated: 11/29/22 for a (45378) Lower Intst Endoscopic PX Scr Colsc. in the amount of $1,698.00
  I did not have a (45378) Lower Intst Endoscopic PX Scr Colsc. This bill is a scam.
  
  Not sure how NorthStar Anes Kentucky received my personal information.
  I do not want this company to file a false collection claim against me.
  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/16/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/12/15) */
  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has attempted to contact the individual about the complaint to inform them the desired resolution is complete. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at [email protected] and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/01/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  After a procedure on May 17, 2022 I received a bill from Northstar Anesthesia for $32.42 on August 2, 2022. I paid the bill on August 17, 2022 received confirmation #PA-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX once paid and I have a copy of that receipt. I used my HSA to pay my bill and they requested additional documentation so I called Northstar Anesthesia to request a copy of the bill because it was no longer showing on their website because it was paid. I don't know the representative did but I begin receiving a bill again saying I still owed them $32.42 with my payment showing as paid on the same bill!!! I have contacted them several times over the last 3 months to discuss the discrepancy and the last time I spoke to Representative on September 30, 2022 I was assured the correction to the bill would be handled. I even contacted my insurance to confirm the amount due was only $32.42 and my insurance company confirmed with my EOB billing was complete for that procedure. I communicated this to Northstar Anesthesia as well that insurance billing was complete and there are no other bills processing for this claim meaning I have paid the amount owed by me in full!! However Northstar Anesthesia refuses to acknowledge their duplicate billing mistake and continues to send past due notices.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/02/2022

  To protect the consumers personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar directly contacted the individual about the complaint to achieve a desired resolution. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at *************************************** and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved

  Business Response

  Date: 03/06/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/12/02) */
  To protect the consumers personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar directly contacted the individual about the complaint to achieve a desired resolution. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at [email protected] and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/28/2023

  This billing issue has yet to resolved by the company as you can see I am still receiving pats due notices after I was told by a representative from the company that billing discrepancy  has been corrected. Do I need to file another BBB claim to address this ongoing issue?

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/14/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Received bill account number AXXXXXXXXX this is a surprise medical bill. The procedure was performed in May all entities have been paid and unable to get a detailed bill from this provider. This looks like they are double dipping unable to get a response from the provider. It looks like another way for anesthesia to retain another fee. Requesting a complete detailed bill.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/05/2023

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/10/26) */
  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has attempted to contact the individual about the complaint to inform them the desired resolution is complete. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at [email protected] and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/12/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  North Star Anethesia provided services for a colonoscopy that I had in April 2022. At the time of the procedure, they requested and I paid $492. Starting in May 2022, they began sending my bills requesting $1,206 for their services. When I contacted my insurance company, they informed me that I had in fact overpaid Northstar Anethesia. My only financial responsibility to them was $378. So they owed my $114. I have contacted them for every month to try to obtain the money they owe and cannot get this resolved. They told me that payment to me had been approved in mid-July and I needed to wait 6-8 weeks for payment. Now, in mid-October, they can't give me an answer as to where my money is and won't let me speak to anyone who can give me an answer. This is fraud!

  Business Response

  Date: 12/14/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/10/17) */
  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has contacted the individual about the complaint. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at [email protected] and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.
  
  
  Consumer Response /* (2000, 7, 2022/10/18) */
  (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
  All the credit actually goes to BBB. I've been fighting Northstar Anethesia for months and wasn't getting anywhere. Within hours of filing my complaint with the BBB I received an apologetic call promising they would send my check asap. I received the check 5 days later. No doubt I would still be waiting if I hadn't filed with the BBB.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/25/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I have been turned over to collection by them. I was on *************** Medicaid when I received their services. This information should have been provided to them by the hospital.
  
  Caresource MMIS# XXXXXXXXXXXX
  Assistance Group XXXXXXX
  
  ***** ********* dob **********

  Business Response

  Date: 11/21/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/10/06) */
  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has attempted to contact the individual about the complaint to inform them the desired resolution is complete. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at ****************@northstaranesthesia.com and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.
  
  
  Consumer Response /* (2000, 7, 2022/10/07) */
  (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/22/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received services on 5/5/22.
  All services billed by the hospital have been paid by Medicare and a supplemental plan including $1545.00 for anesthesia for the procedure.
  In August I received an email and a letter stating that I owed $993.00 for anesthesia services. I thought it was a case of payment from insurance passing the bill in the mail. The following week another email and letter, so I called to be discuss the issue. Spoke with ******** (a woman with an accent from India/Pakistan, etc.) She explained that Medicare and the supplemental plan both denied coverage because services occurred after eligibility ended. I informed her that I had checked my Medicare account and could verify that anesthesia had been paid. Additionally, services after that date of service had also been covered. I asked her to check that it had been billed to the correct insurance. She assured me that she would note all the information I provided and send this to the appropriate department/person to be rebilled and put a hold on my account.
  One week later, another email and a letter. I called again. I was told that the services had been rebilled with the same result. I explained that that was not possible, again verified my information, and asked for it to be rebilled.
  Today, 2 weeks after my first phone call, I received another past due bill.
  I checked my Medicare account again. It does not show any billing or denials from NorthStar.
  Attached is the eMSN for the 5/5/22 procedure showing payment to anesthesia. The second attachment shows all the current eMSNs documenting that NorthStar has not billed Medicare. This leads me to believe that they are not being truthful in that they are not billing and have not received any denials.
  
  Thank you for any assistance with this complaint.

  Business Response

  Date: 12/05/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/26) */
  To protect the consumers personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar directly contacted the individual about the complaint to achieve a desired resolution. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at ****************@northstaranesthesia.com and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved
  
  
  Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/09/27) */
  (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
  I have been contacted by the business and we reviewed the issues. There was an apology on their part and Donna said she would contact the insurances involved to sort through reimbursement problems, repeating several times that this never should have happened or gotten this far.
  I was promised a call back within a day or so, but have not yet heard anything 3 business days later. She did not offer a copy of my file as I requested.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/12/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  15. U.S.C 1681 section 602 A. States I have the right to privacy.
  
  15 U.S.C. 1681 section 604 A Section 2: It also states a consumer reporting agency cannot furnish an account without my written instruction.
  
  15 U.S.C 1692C:Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt

  Business Response

  Date: 11/07/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/14) */
  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has attempted to contact the individual about the complaint to inform them the desired resolution is complete. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at [email protected] and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/23/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Account # 2327-AXXXXXXXX. Date of service 4/28/22. Northstar Anesthesia is not processing our insurance information... perhaps deliberately to increase out-of-pocket payments. We have confirmed they have the correct information, and our insurance company has spoken with them as well. My last phone-call resulted in the bill being discounted from $7K to $1K for no reason... yet they still won't process our BCBS PPO insurance.
  
  Please immediately zero the balance on this account and cease from contacting us further. Duplicate billing CPT codes (XXXXX), balance billing, refusal to contact BCBS insurance... all these things are present and suspect. We have hit our out-of-pocket maximum and do not owe any payments.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/27/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/09/02) */
  To protect the consumer's personal information, Northstar cannot provide account level details in publicly posted forums. Northstar has contacted the individual about the complaint. If any follow up is required, this individual can contact Northstar at ****************@northstaranesthesia.com and we will continue to ensure a satisfactory outcome is achieved.