Pitts Radiology is the pits. They are contracted out with Palmetto Children's, so if your child is rushed there after calling 911, you won't be able to avoid them. As with many hospital stays, various contracted services like radiology are billed separately to the patient (as opposed to being included in the bill from the hospital). I wasn't aware of this, and quite frankly as a consumer it's not my job to know how hospital billing works. Here is what happened with my family:
Almost six months after my child was hospitalized, I began receiving texts saying I had an outstanding balance with Pitt's Radiology and included a link for payment. At first I ignored the texts because I thought they were a phishing scam as I have received multiple spam texts like this in the past. Also, I had never visited Pitts Radiology (unbeknownst to me, they were the provider contracted out by the hospital). Soon after I received a voicemail that I needed to pay my balance or my bill would be sent to collections. After that, I did some google research and discovered that Pitts was the provider for Palmetto Children's. I reviewed my hospital bills and saw it didn't include the x-ray my child received. Putting two and two together, I realized this must be what I was being billed for.
Wanting to confirm (considering I had NEVER received a bill), I called the number I found on google, which resulted in a being transferred to two different people with "it's not my job" attitudes. Finally, I was finally directed to an 800 number. I called it and was on hold for over 20 minutes being looped from automated message ("press 1 for ...") and could not get a person on the phone. I hung up and tried again and experienced being on hold for 30 minutes before someone picked up. I heard voices in the background and then... CLICK. Yep, they hung up on me.
Before calling a third time, I checked out the link sent by text, which directed me to a page that had the balance owed and a box to enter payment. NO itemized bill, not even an explanation of the service provided! Unacceptable!
I called a third time and after 30 minutes spoke to a woman who agreed to send me a paper bill in the mail. When the paper bill arrived it was INCORRECT. It accidentally listed my bill twice and doubled the amount I owed. Plus, it still did not show any information about what portion of the service was covered by insurance. I was livid.
I drove straight to the hospital where I asked a security guard to please show me the way to Pitt's Radiology as the address listed online was for a hospital building. When I arrived and demanded to speak to the billing department the woman told me "we aren't Pitts Radiology, we work for the hospital." Really? Because this is the listed address. The woman behind the desk called another number, gave me the phone, and the woman (shock) said they don't do billing and gave me the 800 number which was the same one I had problems with.
I gave up. I mailed a check to the address provided by the 800 number woman for the correct amount owed and wrote a note on the bill about the error.
If you are a parent and your child needs x-rays or other radiological services, do NOT take them to a Palmetto Children's or you will be stuck dealing with this incompetent office! read more
