A local health clinic in Sonora that was formerly located in Tuolumne City, California has been my family's health care provider for almost 20 years. A branch of the clinic responsible for patient billing, the MACT Health Board is now dredging up "old" unpaid bills and mandating a repayment plan before medical appointments will be honored.
Calling a few hours before the office closes, the night before the appointment, when very few options are available to research these supposed "old" unpaid bills insures that many are forced to negotiate a payment plan for as little as a dollar, thereby accepting responsibility for these "old unpaid" debts. If these debts are not negotiated into a payment plan, your appointment is canceled and you are told that you cannot be seen by any doctor at this clinic for any reason.
My adult daughter has been telling me of these "old" bills that keep popping up every time she makes an appointment for the last year. A bill that is usually well over 5 years old and nearly impossible to verify by existing paperwork. But one that she has to negotiate into a payment plan to continue seeking health care uninterrupted. My adult son is currently disputing an "old" bill that is from a time period that he did not seek medical attention. After further questioning, it was told to him that it was from the local dental clinic that operates under the same heading. He has never received dental care from this particular clinic. The bill in dispute is nearly $200.
Today for the first time I received what I believed was a call confirming a household member's appointment for tomorrow morning.instead it was a call from Tammera, Billing and Benefit Coordinator from the MACT billing office (209) 588-4698 telling me that I owed a bill of $55 from 2005 when my daughter was 16 years old. The family has had countless appointments since then and no mention of this bill was ever forthcoming. When I countered near the end of the call that I was insured through Blue Cross during this time, Tammera stuttered and stammered telling me that she was mistaken, it was 2004 and supposedly went to a collection agency that of today remains unnamed despite my repeated requests to know exactly "who" has been negligent to collect on this bill or if it is even a legitimate bill.
I called the Executive Director, Nancy Ehlers in Angels Camp, California to confirm this practice and it was verified by her that my family member could not be seen tomorrow morning until a payment plan was negotiated. She claimed it could be for as little as a dollar and that she was glad that I called since she was unaware of the policy... Blah blah blah. Her response tells me that I'm not the first complaint of this nature that she has ever heard.in short, Ms. Ehlers commiserated with me, told me that I owed the money, said "oh" in all the right places, and confirmed that no money for the supposed debt means no doctor visit!
This scam has involved countless individuals for an as yet undetermined length of time. Many individuals are paying these "old" bills just to continue vital health care. With limited options in this area for health care, this practice is criminal for a number of reasons and only one of them is relative to fraudulently billing for medical/dental care that was never sought for or received.
I don't claim to know the extent of the damage perpetrated by this hinky billing venture but I do know that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck... Chances are pretty d*n high... It's a duck.
P.S. Just received the name of the collection agency: J&L Teamworks, 800 481-6006. Mr. I-Don't-Remember-His-Name, states that they never sent any demand for said and supposed bill because they are under no obligation. According to Mr. I-Don't-Remember-His-Name it is instead on my credit report. And yet another date of service was given and the amount differs from the clinic's amount and does not include the J&L fee. Go figure!
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