I was referred to Peak Physical Therapy by a local neurologist due to some back and nerve problems. I have an HSA with a large deductible. When I first went to Peak, the business office ran my insurance and was aware of the deductible from the first day. I wasn't aware of it at the time, but Peak did have a cash option where the patient can pay $50 per session. I was not informed of this option when I first went to Peak. However, I was told at the time that after my insurance discount, I was probably going to have a $40 per session liability.
I went through twenty sessions of therapy. The therapists were good and I have no complaint about the therapists. However, the billing is my complaint.
I found that Peak was billing the insurance company at a much higher than cash pay amount. With the insurance "discount" I became obligated to a $70 per session fee. One of the therapists brought it to my attention at that time, that I should not be billed so much, since Peak's full retail cash pay was only $50 per session.
When I brought this up to the billing office, the response was that peak's cash pay is $50 per session, but since they ran it through insurance they were entitled to charge me $70 per session - a 40% increase over their cash pay. Peak was completely unwilling to adjust their bill to the cash pay price. Also, while I have paid off half the bill in a two month period, Peak is aggressively pursuing collection and is threatening to send me to its collection agency.
Conversely, my neurologist has been gladly accepting monthly payments based upon my deductible and have had no problems with the neurologist.
While I am stuck paying this inflated bill, I want others to know about Peak's "gotcha" billing tactics. Hopefully, others will not be taken in by Peak's billing practices.
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