The billing practices of this entity are dishonest.
The government is paying the co-pays on insurance plans for Covid testing. When I made my appointment for a blood test I was told there was a $5 co-pay. Then I contacted my insurance company and they told me there is no co-pay on Covid testing. They pointed out where this is clearly stated in my insurance plan. I took the written insurance plan with me for the blood test, but the receptionist said they could not accept this and were required to charge the co-pay. But we would get a refund after the insurance company paid the bill.
The following week my wife had the exact same experience and she fought even harder with the receptionist.
After the insurance company issued the EOB that documented what we had told MedHero at the front end, she called Med Hero twice over the past month asking for a refund. The first time, they told her our Visa would be credited. It wasn't. She called again on 1/21 and they said they'd look into it and call back. They never called back. So we disputed the charges with Visa.
Today we were notified by Visa we were credited.
You can say it is only $5 x 2 = $10, but we have a good insurance plan and only have a $5 co-pay. You would assume they are following this same procedure with every Covid blood test they are doing. Most people either forget to follow-up or blow it off because it is only $5-10. But if you multiply the large numbers of Covid tests this company is doing by this $5-10 overcharge you can see the magnitude of the dishonesty.
The second complaint is the aggressive efforts by the doctor on staff to sell the supplements. For people who are into paying high prices for supplements, this may be cool, but it really makes it uncomfortable when the doctor is pushing them when you don't want to pay such high prices for something. We don't have past experience going to the doctor and after the medical issues is taken care of to get a sales push. The doctor carries around the vitamins in his pocket to show you after he treats you.
Follow-up 1/30/2021:
One of the owner/doctors called me to discuss the billing issue. Initially, he listened. Then he went on a long and intense dialogue about their medical qualifications. When I attempted to bring the discussion back to the billing issue of co-pays the doctor/owner started "talking over me."
I told him the Federal Law was that there are no Co-pays and he needed to change their system. He said it depends on factors. I eventually had to terminate the call because he wasn't listening. My final statement was to fix the problems I identified so others were not charged Co-pays.
Because this Doctor/Owner did not appear to understand the law I am going to provide it here. My hope is Med Hero stops charging Co-Pays for Covid testing because that is what other labs nearby have been doing since the law was passed.
_________________
U.S. Department of Health & Human Service website
https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/for-patients/index.html
CARES Act Provider Relief Fund: For Patients
The law requires health insurers to cover medically appropriate COVID-19 and antibody testing without any cost to consumers. According to the law, that means no copay, coinsurance, or need to meet a deductible as well as no charge for the testing itself or the related doctor's appointment. Congress also set aside a pool of money to cover people who are uninsured.
Private insurers generally must waive an insurance plan member's cost-sharing payments for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and certain related items and services.
Some private insurers, including Humana, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield system, have agreed to waive cost-sharing payments for COVID-19 treatment for insured patients.
If a patient has insurance and seeks COVID-19 treatment from an out-of-network provider that has received General or Targeted Distributions from the Provider Relief Fund, the provider has agreed not to seek to collect out-of-pocket payments greater than what the patient would have otherwise been required to pay if the care had been provided by an in-network provider.
________________________________________
If you do not have insurance
If you are uninsured and receive COVID-19-related testing and/or treatment services, your provider may have submitted a claim to the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) for reimbursement of these services. Providers who participate in and are reimbursed from the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program are not allowed to "balance bill" individuals who do not have health care coverage (uninsured). read more