- Report: #329317
Complaint Review: Dr. Charanjit S. Dhillon M.D. - Phoenix Arizona
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Dr. Charanjit S. Dhillon M.D.
5501 N. 19th Ave., Suite #225 Phoenix, 85015 Arizona, U.S.A.
Phone:
602-242-9218
Web:
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Dr. Charanjit S. Dhillon, M.D. You may be the victim of Dr. Dhillon's fraudulent billing practices Phoenix Arizona
If you've been a patient of Dr. Dhillon, you are very likely the victim of billing fraud!
I was a patient of Dr. Dhillon and began to suspect he had inappropriately billed my health insurers. When his office ignored my concerns, I filed a complaint with the Arizona Medical Board. The board investigated and unanimously voted to issue a Letter of Reprimand to Dr. Dhillon, concluding:
1. Dr. Dhillon's conduct constituted unprofessional conduct pursuant to Arizona law
2. Dr. Dhillon charged a fee for a service not rendered
3. Dr. Dhillon obtained a fee by fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
4. Dr. Dhillon failed to make my medical records available despite receiving proper authorization to do so
5. On at least 50 occasions Dr. Dhillon billed brief 5-10 minutes rechecks as comprehensive physical exams
6. Dr. Dhillon has been placed on probation for one year, during which time he must take an approved course in proper billing and coding.
By using inflated CPT codes, Dr. Dhillon would bill a brief 5-10 minute recheck as a comprehensive physical exam. When questioned, he claimed that he was simply ignorant of the CPT coding system, which is the universal standard for medical billing. I'd find that story easier to believe had he not been warned by the Arizona Medical Board against overbilling patients in 1995.
Another tactic Dr. Dhillon uses is to require ALL accident victims to sign a lien in order to be treated. This was ridiculous in my case, as I had excellent medical insurance that paid all my bills. Six months after he had stopped treating me and his bill had been paid, he filed a lien against any future settlement I might receive from my motor vehicle accident. When I discovered the lien through an Internet search, I asked his office to provide a complete detailed billing statement. The lien statement showed I had a balance of over $3000.00!! He had failed to credit me for ANY of the payments made by my insurance company and had added an 18% annual interest charge to the entire balance.
I suspect that had I not protested, he would have attempted to collect the entire amount from my settlement. I also suspect there are many other patients who have been similarly scammed.
If you suspect you have been victimized by Dr. Dhillon, ask for detailed billing statements and check any "Explanations of Benefits" you may have received from your medical insurer. If you were charged $175.00 for a 5-10 minute appointment with Dr. Dhillon, you are very likely the victim of "up coding". Even if your out-of-pocket losses are minor, everyone suffers when scrupulous doctors engage in billing fraud.
Patients must help stop this man from using the practice of medicine to swindle patients and insurers!
Tara
Peoria, Arizona
U.S.A.
I was a patient of Dr. Dhillon and began to suspect he had inappropriately billed my health insurers. When his office ignored my concerns, I filed a complaint with the Arizona Medical Board. The board investigated and unanimously voted to issue a Letter of Reprimand to Dr. Dhillon, concluding:
1. Dr. Dhillon's conduct constituted unprofessional conduct pursuant to Arizona law
2. Dr. Dhillon charged a fee for a service not rendered
3. Dr. Dhillon obtained a fee by fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
4. Dr. Dhillon failed to make my medical records available despite receiving proper authorization to do so
5. On at least 50 occasions Dr. Dhillon billed brief 5-10 minutes rechecks as comprehensive physical exams
6. Dr. Dhillon has been placed on probation for one year, during which time he must take an approved course in proper billing and coding.
By using inflated CPT codes, Dr. Dhillon would bill a brief 5-10 minute recheck as a comprehensive physical exam. When questioned, he claimed that he was simply ignorant of the CPT coding system, which is the universal standard for medical billing. I'd find that story easier to believe had he not been warned by the Arizona Medical Board against overbilling patients in 1995.
Another tactic Dr. Dhillon uses is to require ALL accident victims to sign a lien in order to be treated. This was ridiculous in my case, as I had excellent medical insurance that paid all my bills. Six months after he had stopped treating me and his bill had been paid, he filed a lien against any future settlement I might receive from my motor vehicle accident. When I discovered the lien through an Internet search, I asked his office to provide a complete detailed billing statement. The lien statement showed I had a balance of over $3000.00!! He had failed to credit me for ANY of the payments made by my insurance company and had added an 18% annual interest charge to the entire balance.
I suspect that had I not protested, he would have attempted to collect the entire amount from my settlement. I also suspect there are many other patients who have been similarly scammed.
If you suspect you have been victimized by Dr. Dhillon, ask for detailed billing statements and check any "Explanations of Benefits" you may have received from your medical insurer. If you were charged $175.00 for a 5-10 minute appointment with Dr. Dhillon, you are very likely the victim of "up coding". Even if your out-of-pocket losses are minor, everyone suffers when scrupulous doctors engage in billing fraud.
Patients must help stop this man from using the practice of medicine to swindle patients and insurers!
Tara
Peoria, Arizona
U.S.A.
