By Matthew Holt
I moved Something I wrote on LinkedInso that it does not disappear. I do this kind of thing so you don’t have to do Brett Jansen Happy, I am writing in paragraphs of a line.
My question is how do you think of Labcorp, Brown & Toland and Blue Shield of California?
1. I go for my free annual check
2. I receive blood/laboratory tests included in the ACA free check.
3. My pre-diabetes remains “more.” My cholesterol is good!
4. California blue shield Put the claim on your website. EOB’s representation says
-It’s invoiced $ 322.28
– In network savings $ 271.37
(The note difference is $ 50.91)
– Patient responsibility $ 0
5. Then it has 5 subcargas for different tests (which I suppose in total to $ 322.28). Everyone has a different price. Everyone says “in network savings” of the same amount. All say the patient’s responsibility $ 0
6. Labcorp He sends me an invoice. for $ 322.28. “Settings” $ 287.34. Difference $ 34.94.
7. I call California blue shield Customer service. It is annoying as the automated hell system reads the claim EOB that I can see on the website.
8. After a few minutes of that, I hit 0 and obtained a human. After an hour of a young hour ,uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutal, she calls Brown and Toland, the IPA that is somehow involved in laboratory billing. They tell him that I do $ 35 (26 minutes in the call)
9. I ask why, since they are supposedly free under the ACA, they charge me for these laboratory tests. She says that the medical group has sent her the CPT codes and that she can tell me which of the 5 laboratory tests that I owe.
10. (On the LabCorp bill, the charges are divided by test (no codes are tested), but the “adjustment” is to the total, so there is no way to know what the test adjustment is. Remember that at the Bs site, all fit $ 0.)
11. But that information is not in any documentation given by the IPA. She calls them again. Because yes, I am difficult and asked. Minute 37 at this stage
12. Minute 45. The person of the IPA goes up online. She keeps asking if I want a service or a diagnostic code. But he tells me they will review the claim. I guess one of these codes does not count as preventive. Possible she cools the 5 CPT codes for the tests.
13. The BS representative is still in the call. She intervenes and the IPA representative (who I think is in India judging by accent and a bad telephone connection) agrees that my laboratory copayment is $ 50.
14. After a lot of clarification (OK, I lead the witnesses), they agree that if the copayment is $ 50 but my invoice is $ 34.94, then something is disabled, and perhaps one of the codes is classified as non -prevention, therefore, therefore.
15 IPA (Brown & Toland doctors) The representative will send this again to the claims team. I should get a new EOB. Who I have no idea. I thank both for their time and hung. 1 hour 4 minutes
I know it wasted more than $ 34.94 of my time, and certainly much more than California blue shield AND Brown & Toland doctors Money. But it is just an indication of how internal billing and customer service is in these old organizations!
Matthew Holt is the founder, author and editor of THCB
