***Please note that I have filed a Grievance Report and also a Misconduct Complaint with the New York State Department of health for misconduct and negligence!***
I recently switched providers after my doctor, Dr. Shaeffer, who left without notice at Lawrence Goldman, MDs practice First Choice Medical. I established my first patient visit with Dr. Brian K. Mcnulty (my current provider) in Center Moriches on December 6, 2017. During my first patient appointment Dr. Mcnulty provided a form for consent to have my medical records released to their medical practice from First Choice Medical. On December 11, 2017 I received a bill from First Choice Medical stating I owed them $21.75 for "medical records copy per page", along with procedure code S9982 dated for 12/08/2017. Upon reviewing the bill I also noticed that my Social Security number is not correct under my name, but my husband/sponsors is corrects. I called the office on the evening December 11, 2017 and left a message with the receptionist requesting to speak either with the Billing Manager or the Practice Manager.
I did not receive a return phone call. I called December 18, 2017 and requested to speak with the Practice Manager. I was informed that she was not available and Tasha transferred me to Pam, who worked in billing. I explained to her that First Choice Medical should not be billing patients, along with active duty military families, for Patient's Records being transferred between medical practices. I also expressed my concerns that their office has lost my medical records three times while being a patient there, which contained all my medical records from VA, MI, and AK. I also brought it to Pam's attention that my Social Security number was incorrect, and I was concerned with how their office is strictly "paper only" and that they have not switched over their medical charts to digital files. Pam did not seem concerned that my Social Security was wrong, even after asking her to review my first initial Patient Form that I filled out back in 2015. She said she did not need to see it because she had the most current one from 2017. I then asked to look at the original Patient Form in 2015 and she refused to oblige me, for I am sure she did not have it because my medical file has been lost more than twice. She then transfered me to Amanda. I explained the same things to Amanda about the charges and the wrong Social Security number. She seemed to have a condescending attitude and said the charges are for each page, which is 75 cents per page. I know for a fact that I have more than 20 pages of medical reports, due to the ER visits, CBCs, periodic Thyroid Panels, Ultrasounds, CTs/Rads, multiply Urine Analysis, along with previous medical records transferred from previous doctors office located in East Quogue, NY. I asked Amanda for the Practice Managers name and phone number where she may reached at. She informed me that the Practice Managers name is Lisa, and her phone number is 631-585-5858. I called and left a voice mail for Lisa requesting her to please call me back in reference to the dispute of the bill and the Social Security number.
Later on that day, December 18th, I received a phone call from Katrina. Katrina stated she worked in billing and informed me that in order for my new provider to receive my medical records I would have to pay. I then reiterated what she said, and concluded that they have not sent the records to my current provider. I asked to speak with the Practice Manager and Katrina stated she left the office and the message was forwarded to her. I told her to leave another message with the Practice Manager to call me back ASAP. I hung up with Amanda and called the Practice Managers number and left a message requesting her to please call me ASAP regarding the billing and the Social Security number.
My concerns are this: 1. The charges with medical records for transfer. I have never had to pay for my medical records to be transferred to another medical practice. 2. The fact the my Social Security number is wrong and the office does not express any concern. I would think this could be a HIPPA violation, along with misconduct and negligence on their part. 3. The prior history of the First Choice office misplacing/losing my medical chart more than once and having to recreate a new chart, which I witnessed them creating a new chart while in one of the medical rooms. I know I have more than 20 pages of medical information from that office, and they are denying it. 4. That they have not converted to digital/electronic medical chart. read more