I have had a heart condition for approximately the past four years. While having a heart problem is bad enough, I absolutely dread going to Valley Medical Center in Renton, WA. I should write down all the things they've done to me so I could remember them all now. I guess I'll just have to hit the highlights.
I've been brought to Valley Medical three separate times for a suspected heart attack (one actually was a heart attack). On a weekday evening I was rolled through the emergency room and lifted onto a hospital bed. I was in extreme pain. I was having difficulty breathing and both my arms were numb to the point of making me wanna cry. I listened while the nurses joked and laughed and had a swell time. I could see all this because Valley Medical doesn't have private rooms. It's only long string of beds with no sheet or anything for privacy.
I've had terrible experiences as a patient at Valley Medical, but the billing staff are beyond comprehension. I have FULL medical coverage. That's 100%. I qualify for Medicare because I was injured on the job (I'm a retired cop), I also get Blue Cross/Blue Shield which covers almost ALL the rest. But if theres $50-60 or even more my union will pick up the difference.
Well the brains at Valley Medical billed Blue Cross before they billed Medicare. Medicare is my primary provider. It took me months of phone calls and actual visits to the hospital billing office to try to get this straightened out. It's still a mess.
For whatever reason, Valley Medical on just a few bills, refuses to bill Medcare as the primary carrier. So, what happens when Blue Cross receives the bill and sees that Medicare hasn't paid their portion yet? Blue Cross rejects the bill and returns it to Valley Medical to resubmit to Medicare. The problem is Valley Medical is convince they've already submitted all the necessary paperwork to Medicare.
I've shown them copies of Medicare claim forms verifying that Valley Medical needs to make a claim. I've had three-way calls from a rep from Medicare and a rep from Valley Medical. At the end of these 3-way calls I feel like we had to finally settle this... And then... Another bill for $1000s comes from Valley Medical. THey are beyond idiots.
OK< it's not just the billing staff. The nursing staff and doctors are just *&*&s. One doctor in the emergency room walked in and glanced at me for no more than five seconds and asked how long I've been shooting up smack (heroin). I was a policeman for many years. I have my faults, but IV drug use isn't one of them. He simply saw where I had IV's in my arms from a recent hospital stay and jumped to the logical conclusion that I'm a heroin addict. No apologies or admission of wrong-doing. I later find out he put IV DRUG USER in my medical chart.
One quick thing to celebrate~! Last month Valley Medical tried to pull a fast one on the voters of eastern King County. They wanted to expand their sphere of incompetence to include several more smaller cities. If this levy had passed it would have added hundred of dollars in yearly property taxes to even the cheapest home. VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER GOT THEIR ARROGANT TUSHIES WHIPPED! BY A VOTE OF 95% to 5% voters rejected Valley Medical Center's money grab.
My Living Will, Durable Power of Attorney, etc. Have clear directives that I am not to be taken to Valley Medical Center under any condition. It is just can't be avoided I am to be transported to Swedish Medical Center or another outstanding medical facility. You'd be wise to protect yourselves and your loved ones from Valley Medical Center as well.
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