ComplaintsforColumbia Doctors

• Initial Complaint

  12/20/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I had an appointment with ********************* for a consultation. I was taken by a staff member to a room to wait for the doctor. The staff member told me I need **rays. I told the female staff member that I already had **rays done elsewhere and I have copies with me. The reason I took the copies was because I wasnt sure if I would be covered for additional **rays. The staff member said to wait in the room as she goes to check if Im covered for additional **rays. She then came back and said yes the insurance will cover me for additional **rays. She then proceeded to send me to get additional new **rays at their office. After seen the **rays the doctor said I should get **** scan which I paid for the scan to later found out by my insurance that the medical practice needed to claim it first. Now I got a letter saying that my insurance denied the coverage of my **rays. I called the practice to explain what happen and I was told by the receptionist that maybe the staff member was confused and I shouldnt have believed them in the first place and go ask someone else in the front desk. I was so shocked by the way they sort of said sorry but to bad now is my responsibility. The receptionist just told me is my financial responsibility and well the staffer got confused. I want the bill for the x-ray to be adjusted to zero because I cannot pay for a staff members mistake. I would also like the **** scan to be claimed to the insurance. If any other information is needed let me know because Im willing to go all the way with this. I dont like unjust things and this is a huge injustice. I have provided proof that I had the **rays that I did elsewhere faxed to their office before I went and I even took them to the office myself.

  Business response

  01/10/2024

  To whom it may concern:

  The clinic has been in contact with the patient since December 20, 2023 The patient informed me that she made the complaint before contacting the dental school. The patient has been informed that her complaint is under review with ********************* with a resolution to this matter. My last conversation with the patient was on January 5, 2024.

   

   

   

  Sincerely,

  Sincerely,
  ***************************
  ******** ** ************************************************************ ** ****** ******** ************************************************ *** ** *** ********* ********* **** ************ **** ************
  

  Customer response

  01/11/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# ********, and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved yet because:
  

      My X-rays are being sent to the medical side of my health insurance and I was told I still have to wait to see what happens. I will keep updating as it progresses but no resolution has been made yet. 

   

   

   

   

  In order for the BBB to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************
  
  
  
  
   
  

  Business response

  01/31/2024

  To whom it may concern:

  This issue was resolved. The complainant was informed and she will contact your office to inform you of the resolution.

   

  ***************************
  ******** ** ************************************************************ ** ****** ******** ************************************************* ********* **** *****                                  **** ************                                          **** ************                                        
  

  Customer response

  02/02/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved. I was informed on the phone my health insurance covered the **rays since I saw a dental surgeon. I had also asked to see if they can submit to my insurance the **** scan to check if they cover it. Please keep me informed if the health insurance covers the **** scan. Thank you. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***********************
  
  
  
   
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  08/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My complain is about Columbia billing department. Myself and my husband were in need to place multiple calls and to write multiple e mails to Columbia ******** in order for my insurance being able to issue the payments. It seems that staff who does billing do not know what they do. But they definitely know how to make you responsible for the payments they fail to collect and to transfer the bill to a collection agency , to block you from registering for your appointment . Some staff members were efficient in helping me and some were coming with suggestions like to call the collection agency and what?to ask them to resubmit my medical claim in a right way, to get rid of your insurance as it is the one who charge the copayment . My insurance is excellent and when a competent person does the billing all is paid and I am not stressed by communications with ********. Those communications cost me days or months of my life. All billing to United Health should go via Optum . I assume, it is too difficult to process.Please, help. Communications with billing shortens my life. Over the past 3 years we eventually get the billing done correctly but 3 to 6 months later they doing it wrong again. This endless cycle seems to repeat itself 4 or 5 times since I got seek in 2021 I ll be very great full if someone will attend this issue Thank you ***********************

  Business response

  08/22/2023

  ****************** handles Hospital Billing inquiries only.  This complaint #******** is for Columbia Doctors and not a Hospital Billing inquiry (*********************) since we have no access to their accounts.

  Please forward to ********************************************** who handles all Columbia billing and can thoroughly address patient's concerns.  

  Business response

  09/07/2023

  The open unpaid claims are in insurance responsibility awaiting adjudication from the payer.   Patient has and outstanding copay balance.   Insurance carriers assigned co-pay balance to member as it relates to their benefits.

  Patient will be contacted to relay status of these claims.

• Initial Complaint

  03/23/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I went to the office to get a consult on a skin tag.Doctor spent 5 minutes looking at my skin and telling me to monitor it.Then I told her about a wart I had on my finger, she said she can ice it. I got billed $480 for the consultation, and then another $400 for a supposed surgery (I guess that was the ice spray that was applied).I don't feel like the charges are in any relation to the services provided. The consultation was very brief and not worth $480. And the "surgery" for $400 just consisted of spraying some ice spray on my finger.Both charges seem outrageous and not proportional to the services that were provided.

  Business response

  04/03/2023

  Columbia Doctors is working on having the claim(s) reprocessed correctly with the Payer.   We have informed the patient and have also placed the balance on hold until the issue is resolved.

   

  *******************

• Initial Complaint

  02/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  3/14/2022 I had surgery at ************************, my issue is their billing. An initial statement was for $3497.73 after insurance and made a payment plan of $215.00 a month for 17 months in September. My December statement $221.02 was added, I foolishly didnt question it. In January another $721.00 was added, and my $215 payment only showed $178.00. 1/9 I called (did not get a name) and said I need to have this corrected. I am not comfortable giving another payment when it is not recorded correctly, She tells me on 'her' computer screen it shows the $215.00 payment. So I argue "well it should be reflected on my statement then". Then I ask about the added $721.00 to the bill. She cannot explain only saying it was from the surgery in March. It takes 10 months to finalize your bill? I asked for a statement reflecting the changes and payments. She said she would let THEM know. On 1/14 I emailed attaching copies of 4 months of statements with the added charges and incorrect payment. 2 days later I was told would send me clarification, I have never received. Februarys invoice, now $430.00 is owed. 2/20 I emailed them again being called on 2/21/23 by Miniscus(?). She also could not explain showing payment of $178.00 on the statement but said the rest of the payment was moved to another portion on the bill. I said their statement should reflect it. Not aware of my email she said to wait for a response. On 2/22 I was called (****?) by a very nasty woman saying they canceled my payment plan and are turning me over to collections. I said I still have no satisfactory answers to my questions. She said sometimes the insurance companies think theyve overpaid, and it's added back to the bill. I said I have no way of knowing that. She said an itemized bill was emailed to me 3 times, which I told her I never received. My February statement now shows $3365.47 after paying $860. I just want an accurate accounting is that too much to ask? I just want an explanation.

• Initial Complaint

  09/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  I would not recommend Columbia Doctors ************ Physicians (PCP) Division at ******************* to anyone. The Practice Manager, *******************************, never followed up with me regarding an issue where I needed a Medical Leave of Absence Letter from my PCP. She reassured me she would follow-up with me on Thursday 8/25/22 about my complaint OR BY Friday 8/26/22 after speaking with the Medical Director. I question if this meeting ever took place. If she was telling the truth, she would have followed up. even gave myself excuses and waited until the Labor Day Holiday. I feel so stupid waiting and trusting them. I would have appreciated ANY update cause it means it means I was heard. Sometimes no response is a response. Guess the Medical Director and Practice Manager felt I needed to go die in a gutter some where. They do not put patients first. If the people in charge don't care then don't expect to be treated like a human being. I was probably better off going to a ************ with the way I was treated. There's no medical or administrative compassion or accountability. What's the point of having a PCP with access to all your medical history if no one wants to help you?! I never like to write bad reviews so it upsets me even more I have to do this while I'm struggling with a uncommon skin condition that restricts my movements. Any form of friction on my skin causes the swelling to worsen and burn and spread. I cried on the phone with my own mother and friends when I had told them what this office did to me. I was strongly advised to seek legal counsel and am currently. I wanted was ONE THING...ONE thing. Even if you don't have the condition personally understand how it affects me. I really did not want to do this, but I am because I'm angry, I feel ignored, and I truly feel like something unethical happened to me as a patient. I wanted to heard, not lied to. I would have appreciated the follow-up and outcome because it would have shown me care was taken.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩