DO NOT GO TO BARRANCO CLINIC THEY ARE UNETHICAL AT THE VERY LEAST IF NOT FRAUDULENT! Barranco & Dr. Merritt are billing for unnecessary procedures and do not respond to my complaint. They are now harassing me to pay for a procedure that should have never been done.
Dr. Merritt. performed an office procedure that was unnecessary, because despite knowing exactly what I needed (because I told him based on my experience over the last 25 year, I knew what I needed), Dr. Merritt, knowing that neither he nor Barranco Clinic could provide the treatment I needed for my condition, performed an in office preliminary procedure for no sound reason other than to bill me and my insurance company for the procedure.
After I explained in great detail how I had, had a specific surgery done some 15 time over the last 25 years, and he knew that neither he nor Barranco clinic could follow through and perform the surgery I would need, he still performed a scope of my throat.
He knew that the only reason to scope my throat was to confirm the status of the papeloma on my vocal cords as a preliminary to having them surgically removed.
He knew also, based on what I had just told him, that I HATED, the procedure of sticking a scope up my nose and down my throat. Yet, with no way to follow through with the necessary treatment (surgery with a laser) and knowing I HATED the scope procedure he performed the scope anyway.
There is only one reason to have performed the procedure and that is to bill my insurer and me. It was not called for. It was not medically necessary unless he would be moving forward with the surgery and it was not in my best interest.
I discussed what I needed with the Baranco Clinic prior to even making the appointment. Not only with Baranco Clinic but with other ENT offices in Polk County. I discussed my specific concerns and needs with Dr. Merritt face to face before he performed the scope of my throat. I explained to him exactly what type of papeloma I had, exactly where the papeloma would be found on my vocal cords and that I would need them removed with a laser.
When he had shoved the scope up my nose and down my throat and pulled it out he said yes, you have papeloma exactly where you said they would be and they are the size of the end of his finger.
Then after confirming exactly what I had described to him he smiled and stated that unfortunately he nor Baranco Clinic could perform the surgery.
He divulged this only after performing the scope of my throat. Had he provided that information prior to performing the scope procedure I would have been disappointed that I had wasted my time (he was more than an hour and 20 minutes late for the appointment), but I would certainly not have gone forward with having the scope procedure done as I HATE it!
But Dr. Merritt did not divulge the fact that he could not follow through with the surgery I would need until after he had scoped my throat.
Unlike the other ENT offices Baranco Clinic did not bother to listen to my detailed explanation of what I needed, and / or did not bother to determine if they could even offer the surgery that I knew I was going to need.
When I questioned why they took the appointment the office manager Michell Shapiro said that the people who answer the phones are not trained medical staff and they did not know what I was talking about. That is no excuse! I did know what I was talking about and I explained it very clearly.
If this was a genuine mistake then Barranco should apologize and reverse the charges to me and to my insurer. They should remove any amounts owed on my account to reflect a $0.00 balance on my account. They should further provide a letter and account balance notice indicating my balance is $0.00. They should provide and letter indicating that they will not report any negative information to any credit bureau, or collection agency.
I have called the Baranco Clinic several times to discuss the issues associated with this matter. I have explained the details above with Michell Shapiro, the office manager, and she apparently now does not accept my calls, and does not return my calls. I am now being harassed by their collection agency.
I attempted to speak with the office manager again today, but I was sent to her voice mail, by the receptionist. I called back and was told the office manager was not in (as I recall "not in" this entire week) so a lot of good it did for me to leave a message for the office manager, who does not return my calls anyway. I did manage to get the second in command on the phone and unfortunately did not get that person's name. After explaining the entire story (at great length) to this person they said they would contact the collection folks and explain what was going on and then disconnected the call not allowing me to understand what that means. I don't know if that means they will remove the charges from my account, or harass me more! read more