In April and May I had a series of 5 blood and specimen workups by International Medical Lab in St. Petersburg Florida. I have been using this facility for many years, as the service is typically quick and professional.in the past, the bills have been submitted to my insurance carrier, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, and paid by them.
A few months after the lab work was completed, I started to receive bills from the laboratory totaling $695. I went to the lab and asked the phlebotomist why the insurance hadn't paid the claims. He expressed that in late 2007 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida no longer worked with International Medical Lab as a partner, and would not pay any claims made by the lab. I asked why he didn't tell me this, and he stated that he "figured I wouldn't want to go anywhere else". I called Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, and they confirmed that any claims made by International Medical Lab would not be honored.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Brett Davis at the main office in Sarasota Florida expressing my concerns, and asked if the bills could be re-negotiated. He never answered my letter or tried to contact me. I also spoke to a customer service representative at the lab, he apologized for the lack of disclosure, but stated that I still would be fully responsible for the full amount of $695.
Not wanting my excellent credit history tarnished, I paid the bills.
I feel that this company had the resposibility to disclose the fact that International Medical Lab no longer had a relationship with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. I should have had the opportunity to go to the lab that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has a relationship with. I also feel that in light of the non-communication on the International Medical Labs part, I should have been granted a re-negotiated cost.
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