Complaint / Review
ST Peter's Hospital
And Whitney M Young Jr Health Center Double billing for lab work Ripoff

On June 3rd 2005 I went to the Whitney M Young Jr Health Center. This visit was to check to see if I had diabetes. I had an urine test and a blood stick test. The test were done in the office and I recived the results. I did not have diabetes but I did have a urinary tract infection. The doctor prescribe medication which I filled at the clinics pharmacy. I paid my bill-$53.00 and thought that was the end of it.

I recieved a bill in the mail from St Peters Hospital in the amount of $392.95. The bill was for the lab work. Having worked in the health insurance field for over 20 years, I know that when it comes to lab work and x rays for that matter, there can be two componets of a bill for that work. The technical fee and the professional fee. One fee is for the drawing of the blood, the other is for the reading of the results.

I called the hospital to find out why I was being charged by them for work that was done at the clinic. I was told that the clinic uses St Peter's Hospital for their lab work. I said thats fine but at no time did I go to St Peter's for the drawing of the blood or for the urine culture. That all test were performed at the clinic and I received the results at the clinic. I was told to contact the clinic to find out what was going on.

I called Whitney M Young Jr Health Center and was once again told that they use St Peter's for the lab work. I again explained that all of the test were done right there at the clinic (I even watched the nurse put the sample in the machine!) so why would I get a bill from the hospital? Once again I was told that they use St Peter's Hospital for lab work.

I requested the office notes for my visit. I was told that the notes would not help me.

The hospital has sent the bill to a law office. I finally called them and explained why I refuse to pay for the bill. I was told to forward my complaint to the law office and they would pass it on to the hospital for review.

Until someone can explain to me why the lab work was forwarded on to the hospital after I already had the results, I will not pay. I'm at an impass as to what to do. I do not have health insurance so I cannot even go to my insurer for help.