Advice on medical bills?

[SeekingWealth]

Hello CB'ers,

 

I am going to shortly start disputing with WhyChat's HIPPA letters, but was wondering I have about 10 collections with the same collection agency and they are all medical. Would WhyChat or another person experienced in this area recommend doing all 10 at once if it's the same collection company?

 

Thanks in advance....

[boxertrio]

I had quite a few of the same CA reporting too, they will all have a different account number on your report. The overwhelming advice given in the past has always been to dispute all medical accounts in the same preHippa letter http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html after opting out and getting rid of as many name and address variations as possible.

 

Patience fellow credit noob, the big guns will chime in when you need them!

[Why Chat]

Hello CB'ers,

 

I am going to shortly start disputing with WhyChat's HIPPA letters, but was wondering I have about 10 collections with the same collection agency and they are all medical. Would WhyChat or another person experienced in this area recommend doing all 10 at once if it's the same collection company?

 

Thanks in advance....

Are they all with the same OC?? Or do you have a single CA with a bunch of different accounts from different OC's?? How old are these accounts, i.e. when were the dates of service??

[SeekingWealth]

WhyChat,

 

Sorry for the vagueness. There is about 2 from 2004 and the rest are from 2008 that are all the same OC and they were sold to this one CA. They are unpaid but refuse to deal with any CA's and would rather deal with the original hospital.

[Why Chat]

WhyChat,

 

Sorry for the vagueness. There is about 2 from 2004 and the rest are from 2008 that are all the same OC and they were sold to this one CA. They are unpaid but refuse to deal with any CA's and would rather deal with the original hospital.

OK, make sure you opt out BEFORE doing anything!!

http://whychat.5u.com/OPTOUTINST.HTML

If you have moved, try to get your old addresses deleted.

 

Send the initial dispute letter to each CRA where the accounts are reporting, list ALL medical accounts as they appear on THAT report.

http://whychat.5u.com/hipaadisp.html

Come back to this thread with your results.

 

You MAY need to pay the OC hospital depending on the results of your disputes, if you had any insurance for the 2008 services, try to get copies of your EOMB's ( explanation of medical benefits) If you had NO insurance and did not apply for or qualify for assistance, then be prepared to pay at the CORRECT rate, which you will find in the link inside insert "a" of the HIPAA letter.

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthCareConInit/

[SeekingWealth]

Thank you WhyChat I will report back here.

 

Just one more question on old addresses obviously that excludes Experian? They are impossible to get old addresses off. EQ and TU are easier from my experience.

[r2-d2]

I would at least try to get your addresses removed from Experian. More than likely, they won't do it, but it would be in your best interest to try. Personally, I had better luck with them over the phone. They wouldn't remove ANY of my addresses when I sent them a letter, but they removed 1 of 2 bad ones when I called them.

 

*Note: I am not one of the experts but thought I would share this info with you as it helped me remove one of my bad addresses with Experian.

[SeekingWealth]

I opt out and deleted old addresses on EQ and TU. Experian won't remove any addresses with tradelines attached to them.

 

I sent WhyChat's PreHippa and Experian will not reinvestigate. I had disputed them as NOT MINE and 2 weeks later sent the PreHippa by Certified Mail and nothing was deleted with prehippa or notmine disputes.

 

EQ and TU I am still waiting it has been about 2 weeks with no updates yet.

[SeekingWealth]

Ok now what to do for the next step?

 

Transunion at 30 days deleted 8 of the medical debts.

 

I disputed 12 total medical accounts and 4 remain.

 

Ironically, there is 2 collection agency's involved and they deleted some yet other's remained. All are unpaid....

 

Eq and Exp all verified and never deleted nothing.

 

My goal it to get all medical collections off all 3 CR's.

[Why Chat]

Ok now what to do for the next step?

 

Transunion at 30 days deleted 8 of the medical debts.

 

I disputed 12 total medical accounts and 4 remain.

 

Ironically, there is 2 collection agency's involved and they deleted some yet other's remained. All are unpaid....

 

Eq and Exp all verified and never deleted nothing.

 

My goal it to get all medical collections off all 3 CR's.

Your next step is to determine the actual status of the remaining accounts.

You do this by sending each reporting CA the medical DV

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html

 

You can list in each letter to each CA any accounts they are reporting in one letter, however, ( and here is where it gets tricky) you need a separate letter FOR EACH CRA they are reporting to; for example :

XYZ CA is reporting to all 3 CRA's but only reporting 2 accounts to TU, 1 account to Eq and 3 accounts to Ex. Each letter to the CA for each CRA ( all mailed in the same CMRR envelope) should accurately dispute the accounts as they are reported to THAT CRA, because the follow up letter to each CRA needs to have a copy of THEIR individual medical DV sent to the CA.

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

 

On the more recent ones from 2008, if you have copies of the original bills or EOMB's and the amounts MATCH the reported amounts, AND the CA responds to either the INITIAL dispute letter or to the medical DV with WRITTEN account data that MATCHES your records, you can THEN pay that amount directly to the OC with the HIPAA letter insert "a";

http://whychat.5u.com/hipltr.html

[SeekingWealth]

Thank you WhyChat off to do what you instructed and will report back the results.

 

Appreciate your time...

[SeekingWealth]

WhyChat,

 

Once I get my 4 Green Cards back from 4 different Medical CA's then I immediately proceed to make copies of the cards and also send a copy of the letter I sent to the CA and sent it to the CRA?

[Why Chat]

WhyChat,

 

Once I get my 4 Green Cards back from 4 different Medical CA's then I immediately proceed to make copies of the cards and also send a copy of the letter I sent to the CA and sent it to the CRA?

Yes

[SeekingWealth]

WhyChat,

 

I need to know how to respond to this LONG letter that was sent to me from a CA after responding to the Hippa letter I sent them CMRR.

 

"Thank you for your recent letter to our office in regards to the collection account with our office which are reporting on your Equifax credit report. We appreciate your letter and we would like to assist you any way we can however we need additional information from you before we can proceed with your request. All or some of the information provided does not match our records. Per both State and Federal laws we must verify the person(s) requesting validation before we can provide you with such information.

 

In order to facilitate your request our company first needs the following information:

 

• A copy of your driver's license, front and back
  
• A copy of your most recent utility bill to verify your address
  
• Full account numbers of accounts in question
  
• Date of birth and social security number
  
• Detailed explanation for your request for validation (i.e. not my bill, identity theft, insurance support to pay, etc
  

 

If your are looking for detailed medical records you would need to contact the original medical provicer as our office does not have access to this information. We can however, provide you with an itemized statement of services rendered on the date of service, detailed payment history if any, signed authorization signed by the patient or legal guardian and the current balance due if any. We are allowed under State and Federal laws to have access to limited patient information under HIPPA and we can provide that information to you upon request after we have received all the required information above. Once we are able to verify you are the correct person(s) we will mail you copies of the information you are looking for as soon as possible.

 

Please note that some information you requested we are not legally required to provide to you such as private contract information between our company and our clients. If you need further verification that we may lawfully collect accounts, you may contact the original medical provider and/or the State of Oregon. Most information such as the status of our corporation is available 24/7 via the internet.

 

If we do not received the required information from you within 14 days from the date of this letter, we will close your dispute.

 

Sincerely,

 

Office Manager

[Why Chat]

WhyChat,

 

I need to know how to respond to this LONG letter that was sent to me from a CA after responding to the Hippa letter I sent them CMRR.

 

"Thank you for your recent letter to our office in regards to the collection account with our office which are reporting on your Equifax credit report. We appreciate your letter and we would like to assist you any way we can however we need additional information from you before we can proceed with your request. All or some of the information provided does not match our records. Per both State and Federal laws we must verify the person(s) requesting validation before we can provide you with such information.

 

In order to facilitate your request our company first needs the following information:

 

• A copy of your driver's license, front and back
  
• A copy of your most recent utility bill to verify your address
  
• Full account numbers of accounts in question
  
• Date of birth and social security number
  
• Detailed explanation for your request for validation (i.e. not my bill, identity theft, insurance support to pay, etc
  

 

If your are looking for detailed medical records you would need to contact the original medical provicer as our office does not have access to this information. We can however, provide you with an itemized statement of services rendered on the date of service, detailed payment history if any, signed authorization signed by the patient or legal guardian and the current balance due if any. We are allowed under State and Federal laws to have access to limited patient information under HIPPA and we can provide that information to you upon request after we have received all the required information above. Once we are able to verify you are the correct person(s) we will mail you copies of the information you are looking for as soon as possible.

 

Please note that some information you requested we are not legally required to provide to you such as private contract information between our company and our clients. If you need further verification that we may lawfully collect accounts, you may contact the original medical provider and/or the State of Oregon. Most information such as the status of our corporation is available 24/7 via the internet.

 

If we do not received the required information from you within 14 days from the date of this letter, we will close your dispute.

 

Sincerely,

 

Office Manager

They are in effect, asking you for a waiver of your privacy rights and the identification data that they are unable to produce.

Send the CRA the follow up letter;

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

 

You can, if you wish, add this phrase:( in blue}

 

Dear CRA,

My name is xxxxx xxxxxx , my SS # is xxx xx xxxx.

I am sending this dispute certified mail return receipt # xxxx to make sure you receive it.

I have no knowledge or records of account # xxxxx on my report # xxxxx.

 

I have disputed this unknown medical account with the reporting Collection Agent,( copy enclosed with proof of their receipt),as per your instructions in your response of xx/xx/xxxx to my dispute of xx/xx/xxxx and have had no valid response.Their response requested personal data, which I did not provide, as they were apparently unable to provide verification of the account they are reporting.

 

Please advise me as to the name and address of the health care provider, the name of the patient, and the reported date of service,as any account I might have had at one time would be obsolete.

 

If you can obtain this information, I also would need the name of the person providing this data, and the manner in which it was provided in order that I may pursue additional legal remedies.

 

If you are unable to verify and refuse to delete, I will be filing appropriate complaints against you with the FTC for FCRA and FACTA violations,the OCR for HIPAA violations and appropriate State authorities.

 

Please note that as a recipient of private medical data you are also subject to the provisions of subtitle D of the ARRA ,SEC. 13407(1) BREACH OF SECURITY.—The term ‘‘breach of security’’ means, with respect to unsecured PHR identifiable health information of an individual in a personal health record, acquisition of such information without the authorization of the individual. Please note that the effective date for enforcement of penalties against you for this breach is February 17, 2009.

 

I also reserve the right to include your Bureau in any legal remedies I pursue.

 

Very truly yours,

 

xxxxxx

[SeekingWealth]

Thank you WhyChat and just to be clear. I am NOT TO respond back to the CA? Also, send a copy of this original CA letter to the CRA that I posted to you?

 

Thanks again!

[SeekingWealth]

I forgot to add they pulled a new credit report on Equifax, when they received the hippa letter, as I saw a new hard inquiry.

[Why Chat]

Thank you WhyChat and just to be clear. I am NOT TO respond back to the CA? Also, send a copy of this original CA letter to the CRA that I posted to you?

 

Thanks again!

Yes to both, ( with a copy of the proof of receipt )

I have disputed this unknown medical account with the reporting Collection Agent,( copy enclosed with proof of their receipt),as per your instructions in your response of xx/xx/xxxx to my dispute of xx/xx/xxxx and have had no valid response.

[SeekingWealth]

WhyChat,

 

What is the next step? Two of the collection agencies have IGNORED my letter I sent to them CMRR.

 

One of them just re-aged the collections on Experian yesterday. The other sent me a new dunning letter.

[Why Chat]

WhyChat,

 

What is the next step? Two of the collection agencies have IGNORED my letter I sent to them CMRR.

 

One of them just re-aged the collections on Experian yesterday. The other sent me a new dunning letter.

I posted the followup letter you needed to send on 10/31 DID you send the follow up letters to the CRA's?? and if so, have you had any response FROM THE CRA's??

[SeekingWealth]

WhyChat,

 

There is 4 collection agencies involved. The followup letter for 10/31 has not been sent yet, as I was waiting for the other's to respond. I do have it ready to be mailed. The BIG ones I want off my credit report are the ones not responding back to me. So, I can not send the CRA anything on the one's not responding.

[Why Chat]

WhyChat,

 

There is 4 collection agencies involved. The followup letter for 10/31 has not been sent yet, as I was waiting for the other's to respond. I do have it ready to be mailed. The BIG ones I want off my credit report are the ones not responding back to me. So, I can not send the CRA anything on the one's not responding.

???? NO, you need to send the follow up letter,

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

it is DESIGNED to get these accounts off your reports. it says;

I have disputed this unknown medical account with the reporting Collection Agent,( copy enclosed with proof of their receipt),as per your instructions in your response of xx/xx/xxxx to my dispute of xx/xx/xxxx and have had no valid response.

[SeekingWealth]

WhyChat,

 

I sent out like 9 CMRR's disputing all the collections to the CRA's. Let's hope for the best. The other day one of the creditors that I thought would never respond. Finally sent me itemized statements from the hospital. But 90% of them are not for me. A few of them are for my wife and the others are for my step son who is 19 years old now. Only 2 are from me actually visiting the hospital. I am sure not comfortable that collection agencies can get such detailed medical information. I thought HIPPA is suppose to protect us from them disclosing private medical information. Your thoughts?

[bonbonXO]

WhyChat,

 

I sent out like 9 CMRR's disputing all the collections to the CRA's. Let's hope for the best. The other day one of the creditors that I thought would never respond. Finally sent me itemized statements from the hospital. But 90% of them are not for me. A few of them are for my wife and the others are for my step son who is 19 years old now. Only 2 are from me actually visiting the hospital. I am sure not comfortable that collection agencies can get such detailed medical information. I thought HIPPA is suppose to protect us from them disclosing private medical information. Your thoughts?

This pertains to the itemized statement you recently received, is this one of the more recent accounts? Regardless of the age this has been fully validate. Your next step should to pay the OC with the Letter To Health Care Providers

http://whychat.5u.com/hipltr.html with insert "a" make sure you follow all the instructions:

Please make sure that your payment is in the form of a bank cashiers check or bank money order,(do not use a postal money order) that you make a photo copy of the front and back of the remittance, that your name and address are CLEARLY printed on the remittance, that it is made to the order of THE ORIGINAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, and that you print or type clearly in the endorsement section "For Deposit Only to the Account of (name of H.C. provider)(This of course allows your IRS deduction as a medical expense). MAKE SURE that you put the account # if available ( not the CA account # but from your original billing, in the "for" section on the front of the money order. If you do NOT have the original account # OR if you have several accounts with the SAME OC under ONE account #, put the name of the patient, date of service and patient's SS # in the "for" area.

 

HIPAA doesn't protect us from having past due medical bills turned over to a CA, but Why Chat's HIPAA process does provide us a means to get them removed from our CR, if we choose to pay the OC, once they are fully validate.

[SeekingWealth]

WhyChat,

 

There is 4 collection agencies involved. The followup letter for 10/31 has not been sent yet, as I was waiting for the other's to respond. I do have it ready to be mailed. The BIG ones I want off my credit report are the ones not responding back to me. So, I can not send the CRA anything on the one's not responding.

???? NO, you need to send the follow up letter,

http://whychat.5u.com/ltrcavalhipaa.html#DISPUTE

it is DESIGNED to get these accounts off your reports. it says;

I have disputed this unknown medical account with the reporting Collection Agent,( copy enclosed with proof of their receipt),as per your instructions in your response of xx/xx/xxxx to my dispute of xx/xx/xxxx and have had no valid response.

 

This last process WhyChat got me ZERO results. All verified and I received updated copies of my credit reports. Next step?