Couple Q's before starting HIPPA

[talon7351]

WhyChat I asked a question a few months ago (prob 6) and was dealing with other items on DW and my credit reports. I am now ready to start the Hippa process especially since a CA just called me this afternoon demanding payment.

 

My first med bill is a long story which you already answered before. So refresher: old work comp doctors office refused to send in for payment. 08/2006 was the office visit.

 

2nd medical is hospital bill emergency room visit around july of 2007. At time of discharge I was given paperwork to fill out for grant, sliding scale or even a total waiver. I was instructed to fill it out and bring it back in within 5 days I believe. I turned it in to the bookkeeping/billing dept on the 2nd day. I was told at that time that they had already sent it to collections. I had a bit of an arguement with the lady I spoke to about accepting my paperwork but she grudingly did accept it.

 

In all this time I have never heard from the hospital on the paperwork I turned in. Me being the type of person I am, refused to pay the CA on principle (plus other bad history with the same hospital and another CA from about a decade before) and the hospital refused to talk to me about the bill or making payments.

 

I have not contacted the hospital since late 2007.

 

 

I have already opted out when I first started this journey last year say about Feb.

 

I have had almost no luck with removing old addresses with any of the CRA's esp Ex. I cant even get them to remove old PO Boxes I havent used in well over a decade.

 

I did a standard dispute back in December 2012 on all three CRA's for both medicals. Both were verified.

 

Enough of the back ground now, My question is if I am responsible for any interest acrued when I send payment to the OC?

 

Thank You in advance

 

 

[Why Chat]

I doubt very much that the reporting CAs have any current relationship with the OC hospital, paying the OC is a waste of $$ and will accomplish nothing.

 

A standard dispute does not work, especially if you did it on line or by phone.

 

Start over:( include opting out again as you likely opted back in when you disputed in Dec.2012)

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDEBOOK.html

 

You MUST follow ALL the steps in the HIPAA letter program exactly as shown.

 

http://www.whychat.5u.com/GUIDE%20HIPAA%20PROGRAM.html

[talon7351]

Thank You Why Chat.

 

I will opt out again just to be sure and send the pre hippa disputes off tomorrow.

[novapain]

Why is paying the OC(original creditor correct?) a waste of $$, if the money was owed to them and they still accept payment aren't they required to alert the CA on your behave since they are the ones who hired them in the first place? If they took your money without validly owning the debt wouldn't that constitute theft and make them liable for a lawsuit from you?

[Why Chat]

Why is paying the OC(original creditor correct?) a waste of $$, if the money was owed to them and they still accept payment aren't they required to alert the CA on your behave since they are the ones who hired them in the first place? If they took your money without validly owning the debt wouldn't that constitute theft and make them liable for a lawsuit from you?

How can they alert the reporting CA if they have no relationship with them?? Of course they will accept the $$ but it will not be applied to any account as that account is no longer in their system.They will consider it a contribution, not a payment on a current valid account.

[novapain]

Can't you argue (with a properly addressed check "for deposit only account #xxxxxxxx") and justify its validity towards a bill? How can they assume its a contribution? Im sorry I know you answer these questions all the time, but I am a little to eager to pay the OC instead of a CA in my current situation. I called my OC the other day and they verified account numbers, and balances. Is this not indicative of them still owning the account?

Edited April 11, 2013 by novapain

[Why Chat]

If you want to pay the OC and you are absolutely positive that the reporting CA is in a current business relationship with them, then you can use the HIPAA letter insert "a"

 

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