To whom it may concern.
On Sunday June 15th, my 3 years old son Ilan broke his arm and was rushed to urgent care in West lake California. The doctor at urgent care took 2 x rays and advise me to see an Orthopedic doctor the next day as my son needed a cast on his arm. The doctor at urgent care also provide me with a list of doctors in my neighborhood to contact for that. I picked the first name on the list, Dr. Tjerk F. Bury, called the office and asked the person who answered the phone, Jill, if they do treat kids, she said yes and asked for my insurance information over the phone. She also said they do take Blue Cross and they are Blue Cross providers. She also said that she has to check my insurance information and will call me back in few minutes to let me know if there is any problem. She called me back and booked my little boy for the same day to apply the cast on his arm.
When I walked into Dr. Bury's office I realized that I am in a plastic surgeon's office. I was a little worried and asked Jill if she is sure that they treat kids and if I am in the right office for my child. She said Dr. Burry is also hand specialist, I was concern that it will may cost me more, my child needed only cast application that was not necessary for him to be seen by hand specialist. Jill smiled and said don't you worry, we do treat kids and we will charge your insurance.
She charged me $25 co pay before we walked in to see the doctor.
Dr. Bury looked at the x rays that I had from urgent care and said yes its broken, lets put the cast on 15 minutes later he walked me to his receptionist, Jill, and asked me to come back in 4 weeks. I booked my boy a 4th week appointment and was ready to leave the office when Jill said it is $500 for the service. I was shocked and asked her what? $500 to apply the cast on? Is this is the allowed amount by the insurance?
And she said yes, Dr. Bury is a plastic surgeon so we have to charge you for surgery. You have to pay it now. She also said different surgeon office may charge me $2000 for that!!!
I was shocked, I told her that she did not indicate that when I was not sure if this is a right office for my child for that purpose, she kept asking for the money right now and she said I can't leave without paying now! I had my 3 years old screaming in my arms and rather than arguing just handed her my credit card so I can leave and deal with them later, she also said this amount include follow up visits and cast removal. I asked her why I have to pay her for all that now? Why she can not charge me just for the cast application? She said that some patients do not come back, and they go to different office to follow up so they want their money now! I told her that I am definitely not coming back and will not pay twice to remove this cast in 4 weeks. She said this is your choice but we have to charge you anyway. She also said that they charge the whole amount in advance before they submit that to the insurance because people usually don't pay their bills!!!
I find that very humiliating and after checking with my insurance company, I am now aware that only allow $88.22 for cast application.
To add insult to injury, on July 19th I received the claim from my insurance company — Dr. Bury charged my insurance company $1,505.00, the bill included $995 for surgery — he NEVER performed surgery on my son!!! My payment responsibility according to the claim is $620.07 when I was told at his office by him and by his receptionist Jill that the $525.00 that I have paid include also the follow up visits. Dr. Burry was also paid by my insurance $137.24. Jill said that any payment they will receive by my insurance will be send back to me, since I paid $525.00 in advanced. I did not receive a phone call or a check from them.
I feel totally mislead by Dr. Bury's office. Why didn't his receptionist/assistant Jill tell me that it will cost me that and why she didn't tell me that I will have to pay it the same day of the service, she checked my insurance information before she booked me, so she knew I did not meet my $2500 deductible, why she didn't indicate that too? In addition, I don't understand why I have to pay Dr. Bury for service he didn't provide my son with.
Also, in mid June, my son was going to water camp and I don't understand why he didn't offer water proof cast for a 3 year old in the beginning of the summer. When I called Dr. Bury's office the day after he put the cast on my son's arm, Jill said that they don't have waterproof cast.
On July 14th I visited pediatric orthopedic doctor for my little boy to remove the cast and of course had to pay again.
I feel mislead, ripped off and humiliated and requesting a refund of $525.00 back on my credit card, and have Dr. Bury re-submit the claim to my insurance for the correct service he performed on my child using the correct code for cast application (code # 29105, using 1 roll for child arm) plus $35 office visit (my co-pay). Of course I will put the correct fair amount back on my credit card.
I would appreciate you looking into this situation.
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