ComplaintsforAfter Hours Pediatrics, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  03/07/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  On 2/2/2024, my wife took our 13 year old daughter to After Hours Pediatrics Urgent Care in Palm Harbor, Florida. She was seen for a persistent cough. The office had a TV screen that stated office visits were $69. My wife also confirmed with the reception that the maximum charge would be $69 for a basic visit. My daughter was seen and given a prescription. No tests or labs were performed. Afterwards, we were billed $225 by the company. The only line item on the bill was for the office visit. My wife called both the provider and the billing department, but neither could explain the discrepancy. She was told to email Eric N., which she did twice, but never received a reply. On 3/7/24, I called the billing department and spoke with Britney, who confirmed the price of $225 but could not explain the price discrepancy. I told her I planned to file a complaint so she put me on with a supervisor named Sherrie. Sherrie said the provider could not state a flat price and that it was just an estimate. This is in contrast to other Urgent Care sites I have been to, where they clearly state the base rate for an office visit, and tell you ahead of time if there is a different rate for insurance. I believe this company adjusted the charges once they determined our insurer, Aetna, had a contracted rate of $225. Had they told us the cost would be $225 ahead of time, we could have gone to a number of other Urgent Cares for $100 cheaper. I told the company I thought their pricing practice was deceptive and would file a complaint with Aetna and the BBB for deceptive billing practices. I paid the bill in full to avoid a credit hassle.

• Initial Complaint

  07/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  Date of Service: March 21, 2022 Amount of Money: Service was supposed to be free of charge - for uninsured patients. Amount of Money they are requesting: 479.00 USD What the business committed to providing you: During a follow-up visit for my 3-year-old Daughter (symptoms of ear infection and strep - symptoms linked ) I came in to get her antibiotics as they had previously suggested it was something minor. When I came in I had told them that her ear is hurting and that she is coughing. I am from Canada I do have insurance but it's the kind you need to pay for upfront and submit when you get back, without getting authorization you are risking the claim being denied which we were fine with as it's a small risk. So when asked about insurance status we just replied self-insured or in this case to them "non-insured". They told me that if we do three swabs one for Microbiology - Influenza another one for Infectious agent antigen (Covid) as well as a Strep swab it would be covered under a state insurance program and there would be no charge. The language used was it will be not it may be covered. What's the Nature of the Dispute? : After I agreed to have my 3-year-old daughter take three different swabs that I felt were not necessary and I made that clear, they assured me if I would just do that, this would then be free of charge. We left as uninsured patients without paying any bills. Approximately 3 months after service I get an email requesting payment in the amount of 479.00. When I called the clinic to ask about it they gave me the name of their accounts receivable and billing company called TEAMHealth located out of state. When I called them they opened an investigation twice and told me to call the clinic. When I called the clinic they told me to call TEAMHealth, then was told to speak to Practice Manager Dominique Calderon who never returns my calls. They said the insurance program is defunct, then why did they say free of charge? That's on them.

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