JIMMIE wrote the following:
My local orthopedic surgeon sent me a bill for $71.00. This was for 4 visits over a month. The $71 was my copayment after Medicare paid the bills at the Medicare rate. Here's the kicker. I didn't see a doctor on the first visit. I had an appointment but sat in the reception room for an hour after my appointment time before I got up and rescheduled my appointment. The receptionist apologized and said they were short handed that day. They billed Medicare who paid them $156 for me sitting in their reception room for an hour. The second and 3rd visits were OK I saw the doctor both times, the second time I scheduled an operation for my elbow. Way before my scheduled operation, I called them by phone and cancelled the operation. They billed Medicade for an office visit on the scheduled operation date, even though I had cancelled it by phone, and was paid another $156.. You know I'm not paying this $71 copayment bill, not even the amount for the two dates when I actually saw the doctor. Medicade paid them over 4 times the $71 they wanted from me, and for nothing. The next time I'm in the area, I will stop in and dispute the bill with them. If no satisfaction, I'll ask them if I should call Medicare and dispute the bill. I don't want to call them. I want to see their faces when I dispute it.