Going back a few months, I found out I have a several year old medical collection on my credit report. Not knowing about it, I called up the collection agency, once they told me it was yet another charge (I received several small bills from this hospital) from Lancaster General, I asked to simply verify this info and if it was correct send it to me and I would gladly pay.
Well 2 weeks later, I got the bill, and to my surprise, it also listed every little detail about the services I received, even things which had nothing to do with this bill. Basically, the collection agency had my entire medical record from this hospital.
I immediately called the hospital and eventually made my way up to the customer service supervisor, Walter Kramer, direct phone number: 717-544-5787. Well at first I only knew him as Walter. As soon as I told Walter what happened and asked him why my entire record was handed over to a collection agency. He said, well by disputed an account you are giving us consent to release your record to the collection agency.
I then asked, so they have my entire record? His answer, Yes! I then said isn't there HIPAA laws that say you can't do that? His reply, There is, but there is a grey area, which states "reasonably private" and we were, we didn't publish it; we simply handed over your record to the collection company. He then, in a gleeful way, said if there is any grey area in the law we know how to get around it, and trust me nothing we did is technically illegal.
I then asked why info like the exact milligrams of prescriptions was needed to collect a debt. Especially since this had nothing to do with the bill. This was on a separate bill I received. He then said, look any information about your bill need to be handled between you and the collection agent, they have everything they need to answer all your questions about the bill and services you received.
Immediately after that comment, I asked for his full name and was hung up on before I could finish the sentence. Luckily, before we started the conversation, I asked for his direct line (in case we get disconnected) and I got it. So right after getting hung up on I called back and got his full name, instead of only knowing him by Walter. His full name is Walter Kramer and is the customer service supervisor.
I called back several times, never getting him to answer and left several messages. The last message I left was about him hiding under his desk, if he is that confident, that he did nothing wrong - why hide? I also asked him to get some one else to call me, if you are too much of a coward. So far, no one will return my call, and as soon as I call different lines, and they find out who I am, I get hung on.
At this point, the collection agency is hiding, they do not want to get involved in all this and will not be taking my calls, is the last thing told to me. The hospital still is not taking my calls.
Bottom line, Lancaster General Hospital is selling medical records to Collection agencies, in order to help them collect. I was so amazed when the first collection agent was going over every single detail of what I went through. I could not believe it and still almost can't.
The last place I figured you would lose your privacy is between a health care provider and its patient. Please for your own privacy sake, stay away from Lancaster General Hospital. Your privacy will be lost and they laugh about getting around the law.
PS: I will keep you updated, and will be writing on associated content about this matter, as well as other places, perhaps a couple videos. I will not stop exposing Lancaster General Hospital. If for some reason, something changes, I will update things. I am willing to settle this, and I do not want to collect a red cent for it. I just need them to guarantee that my private medical record and medical information will never get out to anyone ever. I just want these dirty practices to end, and if nothing is worked out between Lancaster hospital and myself, then I will continue to shout it out... PATIENT BEWARE
To anyone who has doubt about this, I promise you, I have my entire medical information in hand, every procedure, every little detail from a somewhat major accident, and I got this info from the collection agency. This info was sent by the collection agency to me.By the way, that collection agency is: Credit Bureau of Lancaster County Inc, Phone # 717-397-0901
If at all possible, avoid this hospital. I would rather lay wounded on the street in front of this hospital then receive their service. Lastly, I filed a complaint so far with BBB and Attorney General Biden of Delaware, will keep you updated.
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