Complaint Review: First Choice Emergency Room Austin TX

The prices charged and the billing department practices of First Choice Emergency Room are reprehensible.  First Choice charged more than $4,000 for a 45 minute visit that consisted of an x-ray of a pinkie toe.  After receiving approximately $2,000 from two insurance companies, First Choice was advised by Blue Cross/Blue Shield that because it was a participating provider no further charges could be assessed and that the patient was not responsible for any additional charges.  Nevertheless, First Choice continued to harrass us by sending us bills.  Despite our advising First Choice that no further charges could be assessed per the Blue Cross directive, FIrst Choice referred us to a debt collection company that sought to pursue a claim a claim against us.  After numerous hours of seeking to clear up the matter, we were able to convince the debt collection company that there was no debt due. Despite the obvious violation by First Choice of the Fair Debt Collection laws, First Choice refused to apologize in writing for its patently fraudulent conduct.  As indicated in other Ripoff Reports and other reviews,it is quite clear that excssive billing and deceptive collection practices by this entity are not aberrational.  Undoubtedly the mission statement of First Choice must be to add insult to injury by mistreating the very patients it purports to treat.  If this conduct is as widespread and systematic as it appear, a class action lawyer would be wise to file suit for repeated violations of debt collection practices.