Great Doctor, But Billing Practices & Staff Are a Serious Problem…read more The doctor himself is excellent--but unfortunately the experience is overshadowed by everything else. This office's billing practices are deeply concerning. The doctor is in-network, yet they use two different NPIs: * 1760410625 (given to patients - appears out-of-network) * 1154401941 (used for billing under BASS Medical Group - in-network) This creates confusion about coverage and raises serious questions about how claims are being represented to insurers. They also push a "health data plan" fee that has increased every year--from $135 in 2022 to $287 now--with no clear explanation of what patients are actually receiving. There was no meaningful advance notice of these increases. The doctors are also the owners/founders of the Well Brain platform, which is run out of the lower floor of their Pleasant Hill office--making the mandatory "data plan" fee even more questionable. The biggest issue is the staff. They are consistently rude, abrasive, and poorly managed, and when you question fees or decline to pay, the behavior becomes coercive and hostile. It feels like patients are being pressured rather than cared for. What makes this worse is that many patients rely on pain management and are already struggling financially--this kind of pressure and unclear billing is especially harmful. If you're dealing with this: * Report concerns to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Medical Board of California, or the California Department of Managed Health Care * Email BASS Medical Group's Performance Management Team at performanceimprovment@bassmedicalgroup.com -- this was the only thing that stopped the harassment in my case Patients deserve transparency and respect--not conflicting NPIs, surprise fee increases, and pressure tactics. Do not sign anything you are not comfortable with, and get all NPIs, fees, and network status in writing before agreeing to care.

The dr is fantastic. The billing and profit centrer is beyond insane. They expect a membership fee…read moreof 185.00 and when asked what is this for. Answer is for digital records keeping ....wtf. So I had my epidural shot. 800.00 upfront for my deductible. Then kept sending bills and after Paying multiple I called and the billing said ..oh just forget that one. Again wtf. Then 3 months later another bill. They now are asking for 460 from a collection agency. BASS should be reported to better business bureau.

The Dr told me he doesn't want to see me anymore. According…read moreto the state medical board he should give me 30 days to find a new Dr. Does not respect his patients. He ignores most of your issues, wants you to treat him like a Saint. One of the worst pain doctors I've ever experienced.

Really surprised to see anything less than 5 stars for Dr Mallavaram. Always 2 sides to a story so…read more I would take all the negative reviews with a grain of salt. Dr is patient, kind, has great bed side manner, hears you out and is a great practitioner. Im so glad we found him after having bad experiences with other Pain management Drs in the east bay.

Very easy to talk to and understandable also a very good listener....and very knowledgeable about…read morehis medical practice...I highly recommend dr.lin for his expertise...

Great real doctor for the people. The girl that takes care of his front office amazing.read more

I have been to Ben four or five times over a period of ten years…read more I have felt beneficial effects and relief after each single treatment. Ben is a healer treating the root cause of ailments and pain. Ben also speaks Chinese.

I've been coming to see Ben since the beginning of this year for Knee pain and the regular visits…read morehave really helped me. I come on average every 3 weeks and having both acupressure and acupuncture, the notice since the end of last year is noticeable! (I think partly down to more stretching alongside the treatment). Often asked questions: Q. Does it hurt? A. Not really. It can be a little uncomfortable in certain spots but not painful, if you feel it does hurt or is too much you can always ask to ease up on the pressure. Q. Does it leave marks? A. I bruise VERY easily, I also have a high pain threshold so have been left with a few small bruises but nothing from the Needles used in acupressure. Q. How long is a session? A. My sessions last around an hour in a nice comfortable room. Ben also makes sure everything feels good before I leave. Q. How long does it take to notice a difference in how you feel? A. I noticed a difference after the first session. I did notice the pain returned fairly quickly but continuing regular treatments is having a more lasting effect. It's important to remember that one treatment will not necessarily ''fix'' all your ailments and a series of treatments is usually the case.

They eventually did the right thing and resolved my billing issues, but unfortunately it took 5…read moremonths and a lot of back and forth.

I was in Dr Mallavaram care from 2011 to the end of 2015 due to a spinal cord injury suffered in…read more2009. He was just opening up his new business The Spinal and Pain Center of California. He administered injections, tried different ointment treatments that were testing gabapentin as a topical cream. Even when I had an issue with my long term disability insurance he took the time to write a letter on behalf. So when I left Kaiser and returned to an HMO in January 2024 I was excited to see Dr Mallavaram and his Fremont office taking new patients. I made my initial appointment for early December, but they wanted me to go to Pleasanton office. I said sure, but in the future I want to be seen in Fremont. When I arrived it was not Dr Mallavaram I was seen by Dr Newmark. I explained to him that I live in Fremont and Dr Mallavaram treated me from 2011 through 2015. After the appointment I scheduled my next appointment for March 25th in Fremont to see Dr Mallavaram. I was given pushback saying that Dr Newmark was now my physician and he only works in Pleasanton. Today I was told that the appointment was cancelled and that they would call me back for a reschedule. I didn't hear anything all day so I called now and was told that Dr. Mallavaram was not taking patients with chronic pain he was only taking new patients with new injuries. Why did I have to wait a full month after my first visit before I was given the truth regarding Mallavaram's new directives. Why did they book me with Dr Mallavaram for March 25, 11days away in Fremont if he wasn't taking on people with severe chronic pain. Not only has things changed with the good doctor so has The Spinal and Pain Center of California staff. When Bonnie B ran the offices there you got compassion and a straight answer. Now in days they don't care about their patients, will lie to their face. Wasting time, not prescribing medication on time. Tomorrow if my primary doctor does not prescribe morphine to me, I will have painful withdrawals that will force me to go to the ER. I told that to Dr Mallavaram staff and they denied to help me. Back in 2015, Dr Mallavaram was prescribing me a stronger opioid and a higher dosage. Kaiser switched me to morphine which was less dangerous and we lowered the daily dosage. Now I can't get approval for the morphine from his office. If the staff was up front with me initially when I scheduled for my first appointment or after I was seen by Dr Newmark I would not have wasted 2 1/2months trying to get some relief. Instead I will go through the painful withdrawals at the ER tomorrow because office staff has no integrity or balls to be up front with patient from the beginning. I think his policy not to see patients that are not new injuries has been in place for awhile yet I was deceived by their inaction. I will be finding a new pain mgmt doctor who's staff communicates well and gets back to patients quickly. In the meantime I think the California medical board needs to hear about this.

A family member of mine was diagnosed with cancer, and while researching treatment options, I came…read moreacross Infuze MD. After a brief call with an employee named Paolo, who spoke positively about the clinic, I shared the information with my relative. In hindsight, I realize that in my desperation, I may have overlooked warning signs. At the time, I did not realize Paolo is not a medical professional, even though he was the first person discussing treatment options. The clinic is owned and operated by Dr. Nilda Agnes Abellera, who is board-certified in PEDIATRICS but whose clinic advertises integrative medicine. My relative traveled from out of state to begin what was described as an "intensive" 20-day cancer program. According to her account, the first three days did not feel intensive. She reported that infusion rates appeared slowed, staff could not explain the scientific basis for some treatments, and the doctor missed a planned medication review. She also observed what she believed was dried blood on a chair and described an IV bag fully draining while the needle was in place, which worried her. On October 9, 2025, she said her care was terminated immediately after raising concerns, without timely written notice, referrals, or arrangements to ensure access to medical care until she could establish care elsewhere. Referrals were only provided after I contacted the clinic. This abrupt termination caused a delay of over a month in her treatment and worsened her PTSD symptoms. She also tried to obtain her medical records multiple ways. On October 10, she requested them in person but was denied. She also submitted a written request and used the clinic's online inquiry form. As of this writing--52 days later--she has not received her complete records. When I called the clinic, Paolo was tense and dismissive, and I could not speak directly with Dr. Abellera. Given the situation, I became concerned about whether proper procedures were followed and intended to file a complaint with the Medical Board of California. Additional observations and concerns (personal experience): Family-run structure: The clinic is owned by Dr. Abellera. Paolo appears to manage many aspects, and another family member may also work there. This raised questions about oversight and role clarity. Online reviews: Of 32 Google reviews, 5 were five-star without details. Only one mentioned "cancer," making it hard to evaluate patient experiences compared with other clinics with hundreds of detailed reviews. Difficulty communicating with the physician: My relative and I tried to speak directly with Dr. Abellera; she did not speak with me, and my relative felt the doctor was unwilling to address her concerns. This lack of communication was alarming given her serious diagnosis. Cost vs. expectations: The program cost approximately $1,800 per day. Based on my relative's experience, the services did not match the program description. Others may feel differently, but this was our impression. Social media promotion: Paolo participates in Facebook groups promoting the clinic without identifying himself as an employee, which seemed misleading. I have included a screenshot for reference. In more than a decade in healthcare, I have never witnessed a more concerning divergence from a physician's duty to do no harm: terminating care without notice, effectively leaving my relative without immediate, comparable care options while facing life-threatening cancer.

Dr. Abellera was very professional. I had immunity infusion when they were in Milpitas. The whole…read moreteam were very nice.

This is the office building for women breast imaging and a few doctors for orthopedic surgeon …read more It has big windows and lots of chair for patients and family to sit and wait . Nice restrooms upstairs and downstairs. Staffs are friendly and helpful . There is an elevator inside even it is a two story building . To make an appointment may take a few weeks to month ( especially if you are new patient) . I think it is worth the wait . I saw Dr. Joshua Richards for hand therapy. He is a wonderful doctor . ‍

Was referred here for my carpal tunnel/trigger finger. Dr Cooke and her assistant Kathryn ate very…read moregood at their jobs! They listen, take care of younand respind to emails! My surgery went great and lucky me I get to go again for the other hand.

It was quite daunting to need a hip replacement, but Dr. Bradley made me feel confident in his…read moreabilities throughout the process. He is very quick to respond to concerns and is proficient in using the best available surgical methods to achieve exceptional results. He and his staff members are kind, compassionate, and skilled at their duties. I was actually referred to Dr. Bradley by a reputable spine surgeon. If you are looking for a capable orthopedic surgeon, I would highly recommend Dr. Alex Bradley.

It's been a year and I feel amazing and my life is back. No more pain and suffering and I am able…read moreto walk better from the operation you did.You're the best Dr I've met besides young and good looking .You gave me a meaningful life to be able to walk nicely and comfortably .Amillion thanks to you and wishing you forever happiness with loved ones God Bless and have a nice day always . From: Yolanda Mckeehan

A great doctor and a good person. He always aired on the side of caution without hesitation. A…read moresymptom to him was treated with the utmost importance. Inquisitive by nature, he would directly involve specialists to determine the cause of any symptom. Affable and kind, he is someone you enjoy talking to. I hope John is enjoying his retirement.

He was always so understanding and willing to listen to me when providing his vast medical…read moreknowledge to help in anyway he could. If he didn't know something he would look it up on the spot to educate himself. Miss you Dr. Louie! You deserve more than 5 stars!