This review is accurate, covered by anti-Slapp laws. Beware of crazy billing practices. I'm currently dealing with breast cancer and 4 years after surgery/painful orthotics with Dr Lo, my foot is still swollen. I can't take a single step without feeling like my foot is filled with glass shards.
Then, nearly 4 years after my treatments, the afternoon before Thanksgiving, his office notifies me of a large outstanding bill with charges I was not aware of, informing me if I don't pay up, offshore billing will send it to collections! In 4 year I was never notified about anything via phone, email, mail!!! I can tell there are dubious charges, however, they won't give me access to my records to research unless I pay for my them! How is this legal??? Then it gets more absurd. The office informs me they had a "crazy" biller (their words, guess not worried about possible defamation suits) woefully delinquent on patient bills, who abruptly left. A quick search reveals others have dealt with this as far back as early 2023 (coincidentally for ill fitting orthotics), but for whatever reason, Dr. Lo's office springs this on me pre-Thanksgiving weekend, '24, when I have friends/family coming into support me during breast cancer treatment. The entire weekend had a giant cloud over it due to the inhumane treatment from this office.
Logic dictates that when you employ a "crazy biller", you help patients resolve questionable billing, but logic attempts with the office were met with defense and the insistence that I pay for records that could help me bring closure for all of us! Apparently, they want to make life more miserable for cancer patients with bad feet.
Of interest: On my paperwork, Dr. Lo called my surgery something it was not so maybe they don't want to me to access to records??? (Hopefully the AG won't have to pay.)
The receptionist would always try to bill me for copays despite the fact they were supposed to be included in my surgery package or covered by some other reason such as:
1. Copays which happened after I met my out of pocket/deductible.
2. Copays for visits which were supposed to be included in surgery and or orthotics visits for surgery that made my foot worse and orthotics that caused such pain, I couldn't walk for two days.
3. Billing for a unnecessary and redundant x-ray that Dr. Lo admitted was both unnecessary and redundant after I told him his staff he had recently done one.
4. Billing for useless pain inducing, ill fitting orthotics which not only exasperated my foot pain but back and hip pain. I double checked these were covered, his "Crazy" (clinics term) biller assured me they were covered and Dr. Lo wouldn't make them until they were - and yet now they're claiming they weren't.
5. Copays for what I thought were a orthotics follow-up but instead Dr. Lo thrust a stack of paperwork to sign in my hands and left. (He actually billed insurance for this?) Or his 2 minute monologue pre=surgery where I was not allowed to ask questions because it would interrupt his thought processes, both which I was told were included in the surgery package.
6. Copay for what was finally supposed to be my orthotic followup, where a harried Dr. Lo informed me he didn't know why my post surgery foot was still swollen and painful and to check with my PCP. (My PCP was incredulous at this suggestion. My PT baffled at his lack of response when she couldn't get the swelling down. You can't heal with chronic swelling. Dr. Lo never responded to this.)
So where do situations like this leave people like me (and possibly you or someone you love?) Stuck for hours or days on the phone with my former insurance company having to dig up what was covered and what is fraudulent, while I deal with cancer!!! Dr. Lo really cares about his patients, huh?
I had my own experiences with the so-called crazy biller. When i expressed concern over driving on hilly rural roads during a snow storm to surgery, she threatened me with a potential 20K lawsuit if I didn't show. She launched into an unprovoked rant about her COVID beliefs one visit. She sold me a clearly used shower protector that leaked, causing me surgical wound to open up, then refused a refund.
Also: Despite telling Dr. Lo I couldn't take opioids on an empty stomach, he prescribed me 2 while groggy in recovery after not eating for 12 hours. I was sick for the rest of the day and night, limping to the bathroom on my freshly cut open foot, ruined my clothes, my partner's car, couldn't eat for 3 days, missed a lucrative contract job.
My options now, are permanent big toe fusion with a 12 week recovery which I most likely can't have due to my cancer med or a constant series of lifelong pain shots.
I will fight these charges using every legal method but worry for elderly people like my parents who might take all charges at face value. I wasn't the only one hit with this irresponsible unprofessional billing debacle. read more