Up until a couple of years ago, this was called Hillmont G.I., and this was not the first name change that the practice underwent. In my view, this decision to change the name nearly every year is rooted in a desire on their part to shake off a bad reputation that was well-earned.
I went here for a consultation after having a series of frustrating experiences with other G.I. doctors. at other practices and was frankly tires of driving to increasingly remote locations and, under pressure from my GP, decided to give this practice a try despite being warned not to do so by others who had been here.
I went here at the very end of 2019 and was not even seen by an MD, but was permanently assigned to an NP that they had at the location. I had just 14 months prior had a colonoscopy done at a different practice entirely (I wasn't exactly happy with them either) and gave this practice my records. I was trying to determine why I was experiencing colitis as it was quite debilitating. Where the other practice I had been to was merely rude to me (accused me of not doing the prep for the colonoscopy properly and became even more rude when I stormed out of the building somewhat prematurely after the procedure) and I thought these places couldn't get any worse, this practice has to take the cake as the single worst place you could go for colon and liver issues.
As I said, I had just recently had a colonoscopy done and I was not interested in having another done so soon, especially if they are going to declare the test inconclusive. This NP ordered up about $10k in tests including genetic tests which came back suggesting that I, in fact, had Crohn's Disease. I found out that Humira can help with this condition and when they called with my test results; which I had already helped myself to online; they refused to give me Humira.
At this point, their RN there told me that despite my positive test for Crohn's, if I would not agree to let them bill Medicaid for another repeated and unnecessary colonoscopy, she would be withholding the Humira.
As egregious as Hillmont G.I. putting the defrauding of an insurance company ahead of patient welfare is, it is not the end of the story.
I was scheduled for a so-called "FibroScan" which is actually a non-invasive and equally useful alternative to a liver biopsy that, for some reason, Medicaid doesn't cover entirely despite it being cheaper by far (for them) than the traditional liver biopsy. There was an unexpected $32 co-pay which, due to my joblessness, I did not have one dollar to pay. Although I was outraged by this NP's refusal to give me a script for the Humira, I wanted to know if I had cirrhosis. After learning from the cover letter sent with the new patient paperwork for their Flourtown location (where the FibroScan would be done) of this additional cost, I realized that I had no choice but to cancel what I felt was a medically important test.
When I called to cancel the test, the receptionist clearly didn't want me doing that (because people cancelling costs them $$$) and pried for an explanation for why I was cancelling. I explained that I could not afford the unexpected $32 fee and that I was not supposed to have any co-pays on Medicaid anyway.
At that point, the woman on the phone, instead of helping me to find a way to get Medicaid to pick up the $32 co-pay, suggested that I let them do the procedure, not pay them, and let the bill go into collections. Clearly, they didn't care about my credit score or my health. It sounded to me like she was trying first and foremost to shield her bosses from liability. I had to repeat myself three times before she would cancel the FibroScan and then called separarely to cancel both the scheduled colonoscopy and follow-up, both of which were booked without asking me if I agreed to it in the first place.
Do not waste your time with anything in this entire area. The nearest competent doctors to this area are about 50 miles away. read more
