ComplaintsforForefront Dermatology, S.C.

• Initial Complaint

  04/15/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am filing a complaint because Forefront Dermatology has been sending me bills every month for a charge I paid five months ago and I want them to stop sending me bills.On 10/26/23, I incurred a charge of $136.61 at my dermatologist's office, Lakeside Dermatology, in *********, **, which had recently become part of Forefront Dermatology. On 11/21/23 I paid my bill of $136.61 in person at the ********* office and received a receipt. At the end of November 2023, I received another bill for the same amount but ignored it, figuring the billing office had not yet updated their system with recent payments. In December 2023, I received the same bill and replied by mail with the statement, my credit card receipt, and my credit card statement showing I had already paid it. I received the same bill again in January 2024 and replied by mail with the statement, another copy of my receipt, and a strongly worded note stating I had already paid the bill.I received the same bill again in February 2024, and this time I called the billing office on 2/20/24, explained the situation, and was told by their representative (I do not have her name) that they had indeed received my payment, but it was billed to the wrong service (I'm not sure what this means) and I could disregard the bill.In March 2024, I received the same bill again and I wrote an email to Forefront Dermatology CEO, ***********************, complaining about this issue and asking that his company stop sending me bills. As of 4/15/2024, I have not received a reply.Today, 4/15/2024, I received yet another bill for the same $136.61. I want these bills to stop. I am worried that they will send a debt collector after me and damage my credit rating. I shouldn't have to make additional phone calls, mail their bills back to them with more copies of receipts that they already have, or email other company executives.

  

  Business response

  04/16/2024

  Good Morning - thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.I see that a HIPAA release was offered and accepted on 4/15/2024. Can you please provide us with a copy of this accepted release? Thank you - ************;

  Customer response

  04/16/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  SEE ATTACHED HIPAA RELEASE 

   
  Regards,
  
  *************************

  Customer response

  04/17/2024

  Is there a way to update my original complaint? Today I received a past due notice from Forefront Dermatology stating they may send my account to a collection agency if they don't receive payment. I've attached the letter for reference.

  
  

  

  Business response

  04/18/2024

  Good Morning - Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We take all concerns seriously and hope to find a satisfactory resolution. Our Billing Team was made aware of the concern, appropriate steps were taken, and ************************** account now reflects a zero dollar balance. A team member left a voicemail message for **************** on 4/16/2024 to discuss the matter and a letter was also mailed to her. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention and allowing us to address the concern. 

  Customer response

  04/18/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  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.

  I received a letter from Forefront Dermatology apologizing for the error and a zero-balance statement on 4/18/24. I wish to note that in Forefront Dermatology's response to the complaint, they said they left a voicemail for me on 4/16/24. I never received a voicemail from them, and my cell phone shows no unanswered or unidentified incoming calls that day.

  Regards,
  
  *************************

  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/04/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  My daughter has had 2 appointments cancelled and has been waiting since August to see a specific practitioner. The explanation that I received (related to the cancellation) is that the system is triple-booking appointments for patients. Why are you using an online system for booking that is not properly functioning? When talking to the scheduler, I said that she should be given priority over other triple booked appointments since she has been waiting for 5 months to see this specific practitioner. He is booked into April, she had to schedule with a different practitioner. For a company of your reputation, this is a highly unethical practice if the booking system is not functioning correctly. Why isn't it taken down from your site until the issues are fixed. My resolution is to reschedule her with this specific practitioner immediately. Thank you.

  

  Business response

  01/04/2024

  Hello - thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Please provide a HIPAA release form so that we may respond accordinly. 

  Customer response

  01/13/2024

  *****, I emailed you Thursday 1/12.  *********** has reached out to me with an explanation which I am satisfied with and wish to close this case.  I never received acknowledgement from you on receipt of my email to you.  Thank you.

  Customer response

  01/17/2024

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  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. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  13 minutes late for reasons, and was told I have to reschedule, and attempted many times to call the day before without success.I made the appointment months earlier, and took off work to come in.

  

  Business response

  01/03/2024

  Hello - thank you for bringing this matter to our attention. Please provide a copy of the ***** release so that we may address this concern accordingly. 

• Initial Complaint

  12/19/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I visited the Forefront Dermatology location in ************ on 4/20/23. I was referred from the doctor's ****** at *********************** and had health insurance through the Universities healthcare plan. I went to see Dr ****** regarding alopecia. I asked the receptionist if this would be covered under my insurance policy and I was assured so. After visiting Dr August for less than 10 minutes, I was written a prescription and sent on my way. I just recently got a Bill for $474, which is an exorbitant amount. If I had known that insurance would not cover the visit I would not have gone. The cost of a 10 minute doctors check up at this facility is extortionary if you do not have insurance.

  

  Business response

  12/20/2023

  Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention. Please provide a HIPAA release so that we can respond accordingly. 

  Customer response

  12/21/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  I have already signed a HIPAA release form with BBB. If you can provide me with a release form I can proceed also. 
  
  Regards,
  
  *********************

  Customer response

  12/21/2023

  HIPAA release form attached here. 

  Customer response

  12/22/2023

  Attached is the ***** release form. 

  Customer response

  12/22/2023

  **SEE ATTACHED HIPAA RELEASE FORM**

  

  Business response

  12/27/2023

  We are in contact wtih the consumer and are working on a resolution for this concern. 

• Initial Complaint

  11/15/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  November 15th at 11:40 am I had an appointment with ***** the physician at the ********* location. I didnt have the best experience with her assistant who asked me questions and confirmed my information. She talked over me like she was in a rush and she didnt send my prescription to the right location after I verified with her. When it was time for me to leave, she didnt walk me out to the exit, she proceeded to walk away with her physician. I work at a hospital and this is not how we treat our patients.

  

  Business response

  11/16/2023

  Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention.  Although it is noted that this customer is just looking to share their experience, we are unable to provide any response without a signed HIPAA release.

• Initial Complaint

  10/21/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 5/18,23 I came in for an appointment made by a phone conversation. The person who made my appointment took my insurance information and confirmed that they took my insurance. After my appointment, the office clerk told me that I did not have a balance due. Two days later I was called by Forefront Dermatology and told that they did not accept my insurance. I was told that I needed to pay the entire balance out of pocket. I would not have gone to this provider had they informed me that they did not accept my insurance. They keep demanding I pay ********

  

  Business response

  10/23/2023

  Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention.  Please forward the signed HIPAA release so that we can respond accordingly.  

• Initial Complaint

  10/19/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I have attached a letter fully explaining all the details.

  

  Business response

  10/19/2023

  Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention.  I see where it is noted that a HIPAA release was offered and accepted on 10/19.  Please provide a copy of the release so that we may respond accordingly.  

  

  Business response

  10/30/2023

  Thank you very much for sharing this concern with us.  We have reached out to this patient to discuss this situation and work toward a mutually acceptable resolution.  

  Customer response

  11/10/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  I have talked with ******, a couple of times.  Currently I am waiting for a call back from our last conversation on Monday 11/6/2023.  
  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************

• Initial Complaint

  09/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Initial appointment 4/27/23 Received a notice in advance because I am self pay, that I needed to be pay within 20 days of appointment.Had to pay $150 before the visit on arrival Each and every staff was ****** and irritable. I made it clearly known that I would be gone for the month of May. Nurse practitioner (**) was rude!!! Talked negatively about the former **. A biopsy was taken.I attempted to pay the bill in full upon leaving the office. They told me I was "all set, all good". Five days later I received a phone call from the ** with my diagnosis. He told me one of his staff would get back to me and work with me on a drug program and payment schedule. 10 days later I called back to follow up and nobody had done anything!!! I worked with a receptionist and nurse in an attempt to get paperwork going over the course of the next five days. In order to proceed, they told me that I needed to sign a form, but I was in Colorado. I was told they do not do docusign. I had no way of receiving any mail where I was. Forefront sent it to my home some **** miles away. I had somebody go to my house and get my mail and they took a picture of the form, emailed it to me, which I printed out at a local courthouse. I signed the form and mailed it in. Upon receiving, Forefront told me that the form wasn't clear enough and rejected it. They mailed me another form on 5/25. It was now a month later and my condition had worsened significantly with absolutely no help from this, supposedly professional doctors office.When I arrived home on June 1st, there was a bill for $399. July I received an EOB from my former insurance company. Then on 7/14 they sent me a bill for $511. Then I received another EOB from my former insurance company. Forefront attempted collection from them a second time, even though I was clear and told them I had no insurance. On 8/7 a bill for $1769.Then a bill for $701 dated September 4th. all four of the bills that I received were for the same services on 4/27.

  

  Business response

  09/22/2023

  Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention. I see where it is noted that a HIPAA release was offered and accepted on 9/22/23. Will you please provide a copy of the release so that we may have it for our records and respond accordingly?

• Initial Complaint

  08/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On July 28th visited Seacoast Dermatology/ Forefront Dermatology in ****** ** and paid ****** for initial appointment. I was advised that additional payment might be required depending on appointment outcome: for example, if more tests will be needed - I agreed. Appointment was less than 10 minutes, and I was told that I have nothing to worry about (in regard to the issue I came with) Left the room with a bill which indicated "0" payment and was asked to give it to the receptionist which I did. On August 28 received a paper bill saying what my visit cost was ******! and that I have to pay a remainder which is ******! Where in the world would we pay $474 for a 10 min conversation with a nurse practitioner?!!! I found it highly unethical and unfair to be scammed by healthcare professionals.

  

  Business response

  08/29/2023

  Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention.  I see where it is noted that a HIPAA release was offered and accepted on 8/28//23.  Will you please provide a copy of the release so that we may have it for our records?

  Customer response

  08/29/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  I have no records of above mentioned HIPPA. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************

  Customer response

  09/01/2023

  Attached is signed HIPAA.

  

  Business response

  09/05/2023

  Thank you for providing the ***** release. We are looking into this matter and will provide a response as soon as possible. 

  

  Business response

  09/12/2023

  Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We take all concerns seriously and have been in contact with the patient. As a courtesy we have adjusted the balance on her account and will send her an itemized statement. This matter was resolved on 9/8/23 . Thank you. 

  Customer response

  09/12/2023

  [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
  
  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. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************
  

• Initial Complaint

  08/27/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I went into the Forefront Dermatology office in *******, ** on 06/26/2023 for a visit to get acne medicine. There was no discussion of charges, so after agreeing to a prescription (and paying for the medication myself at a pharmacy), I was charged a bill of $464.44 just for getting a prescription. I called the billing **** for an explanation of why I was charged this amount, and was not given a clear explanation as to why the bill was so expensive, or a breakdown of the charges.

  

  Business response

  08/28/2023

  Thank you for informing us of this concern. Please provide the ***** release so that we can promptly respond.  Thank you.

*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. ↩