Aargon Agency is smoking something :)
Date: Mon, 10/01/2007 - 17:45
I gave them the account number and all they had was the account number and a dollar amount. Nothing else, no name, nothing. They said it was purged for being from 2002.
So I decide to call Aargon..I kno0w I know your not supposed to, but I was curious to see what they would say. So..I turned on the recorder and called.
I told them that the printout was not proper validation as it was not directly from Hospital...the lady said it was directly from the hospital. "Oh really? Then why when I called Hospital, they have no record, hmm?"
She then told me I must have called the wrong place. Um hmm. Right. She kept telling me it was our debt and we better pay it. Finally she put a manager on who told me the same thing....
Oh and get this...she spouted off MEDICAL RECORDS, diagnosis, what procedures were done, etc....I didn't think a CA could HAVE that info...I thought that kind of info is confidential!!
Anyhow I very smugly told her, "Well, I don't think this is proper validation, I will have to go to the next level." OMG it felt SO good to use that one on them like I have heard countless times!!! :lol: :lol:
Golden, when u sign taking resonsibility for the hospital bill,
Golden, when u sign taking resonsibility for the hospital bill, it has a clause in there that they can send the info over to a CA should u not pay the hospital or doctor. SO they can send them ur medical information... I, at one time, thought the same thing as u, that this is confidential information to find out i had signed that right away.
Hope this helps a little,
Ang
Yeah, that figures. No skin off my nose really, was just surpri
Yeah, that figures. No skin off my nose really, was just surprised to hear her rattle it off. Im still going to wait the rest of the 30 days and see if they do anything else, then likely send another DV reminding them that if they don't do what I asked, I will take them to court in 30 days.
She still should not be rattling off your personal health inform
She still should not be rattling off your personal health information over the telephone that is a violation of HIPPA. She has no way to know that the person she is speaking to is actually the patient. However, yes the hospital can disclose your medical information to a CA in an effort to collect their money.
Goldenblast, you should "process" them, as they so often like to
Goldenblast, you should "process" them, as they so often like to threaten us with. :-)
Leah is right, as my username indicateds I am (or at least was)
Leah is right, as my username indicateds I am (or at least was) a EMT-basic. One thing that we absoulutely cannot do is discuss protected health information via phone because we have no way of completely verfiying the callers identity. We are supposed to direct them to our privacy officer so that they may set up a meeting at corporate to access any info. Basically they have to show ID and have to be the patient, or the patients MPOA (medical power of attorney) otherwise it is a HIPAA violation. They didn't verify your identity, big no no...
BTW, you should ask them the name of their privacy officer is. Y
BTW, you should ask them the name of their privacy officer is. You should get a laughable response.
Really? I had no idea about that..she was spouting off about th
Really? I had no idea about that..she was spouting off about the medical info right and left, even going so far as to offer possible reasons why the patient (my daughter) was in there, "Does she have allergies? Was she bitten by an animal?" stuff like that..like I am going to answer any of those questions!
The lady then sarcastically asked me if I took my daughter to the doctor, I repsonded, 'sure, I take my kids to the dr whenever they are sick, why, are you attempting to collect on those too?' :lol:
At the very least I know that in EMS each squad is required to h
At the very least I know that in EMS each squad is required to have a privacy officer that is to handle inquiries that are considered "sensitive" in regards to HIPAA
What is EMS? I should prolly go look up HIPAA while im at it:)
What is EMS? I should prolly go look up HIPAA while im at it:)
Ok so here is an update. I talked to UMC again, just to cover m
Ok so here is an update. I talked to UMC again, just to cover my butt. Once more, no true record, just a account number and dollar amount. No signed agreement, no statement, not even a paper with diagnosis/treatment. I am having them send me a statement to that effect and I recorded the conversation. So...here is the letter I have composed to Aargon. Give me your opinion on it, if there is anything I should change.
Quote:
Dear Aargon: I have received your letter and debt validation. I challenge the authenticity of the document you have sent in its entirety. No where on the paper does it say this is directly from UMC. Due to my suspicions, I contacted UMC, both the billing department and the medical records department. They have no full record of this alleged debt, just the account number you specified (#XXXXXXXX) and the amount of $$$.$$. They have nothing else, no medical record, no discharge papers or signed agreement. They do not even have the paper that lists what medical procedures were rendered or the diagnosis. I have the conversation with UMC recorded and I have also requested a statement from them that reflects the fact they have no account (I will send you a copy of the letter when I receive it). The man I spoke with even suggested that I not pay this supposed debt as there is no record of it from them. As there is obviously no way this alleged debt can be validated, I demand that you cease all further collection attempts on it and remove the item from my credit reports. Further, since this is obviously a disputed/unvalidated account, I want the account closed immediately and not be sold. Selling a disputed account is yet another violation and I will not hesitate to bring suit against you. My first letter to you received on 09/24/2007 is still in full effect. If this item is not closed and removed from my reports I will proceed with a suit, having already given you the 60 day notice as per the Texas Business and Commerce Code, chapter 17. I will file suit on 11/26/2007 which is more then 60 days from when I gave notice. Thank you, Goldenbast |
