Beware of billing messes created by merging hospitals
Capital Region residents should be warned of a down side to hospital mergers — a billing mess. When St. Clare’s was absorbed by Ellis here in Schenectady, billing done by St. Clare’s just before the merger was being handled by NCO Financial Services. However, this company never sent me any mailings, bills or otherwise. I am unable to get their address or phone number. In January, I received an upsetting letter from Absolute Collection Services, located in North Carolina. This letter said that, “This account, previously placed with NCO Financial Services, has been referred to our office by St. Clare’s Health System for additional collection efforts.” In brief, I am now in collection for a bill I never received. My name and credit rating are in jeopardy. I disputed the debt because the letter said I would get a copy of verification of the debt mailed to me if I didn’t agree with the action taken. On March 6 I received a letter from Absolute, but it is the same letter I received in January, except that my amount due is $2 less. There is no verifi cation of the original debt. There is another billing company in the mix, Managed Care Solutions in Hollywood, Fla. They request I pay them. I have tried to speak to someone, anyone, in person, to show them all the receipts I have; however, neither hospital Ellis nor St. Clare’s has a billing department. I have made numerous calls but am not getting a solution. A lawyer who volunteers for the Schenectady County Office of Long Term Care advised me to get answers in writing. I am trying to do just that. My advice to hospital/medical groups that are merging is to provide in advance for billing problems that will arise from your merger. Create a local site where patients can get real answers. This is not a healthy situation for me, and doctors know what stress can do to a person.
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