- Report: #1318146
Complaint Review: Johns Hopkins Bayview - Baltimore Maryland
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Author Confirmed
Why?
Johns Hopkins Bayview
4940 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, 21224 Maryland, USA
Phone:
410-550-7900
Web:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/johns_hopkins_bayview/planning_your_visit/maps_directions/index.html
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Johns Hopkins Bayview extra fees and price gouging Baltimore Maryland
Went to the ENT and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and received several unreasonably high bills that are questionable. One was for sitting and waiting for $327.68.
The doctor bills were $634.03 for an endoscopy that was performed and at the start the doctor said he could not help me. It did not address my headache issue since the doctor could not check the sinus over my right eye but he wanted to do it anyway.
One was a "consultation level IV" that does not meet the criteria of peer to peer since no referral was required, only about 15 minutes time with patient was spent, and no high level medical decision making was performed. It was a visit not a consultation and no prescriptions or follow ups were made. It appears to me the doctor has their staff chat with patients and then he comes in to make sure the whole session lasts at least 45 minutes for billing purposes.
The other bill was from Johns Hopkins Bayview for what they call "Operating Room Services" and was my sitting in a chair waiting for the doctor. No services were provided and they should not be allowed to just add on bills or exorbitant taxes for no effort. It is the same logic as saying my living room is a museum because I have pictures on the wall. I asked customer service if I had seen the doctor in his White Marsh office then I would not have to pay the $327.68 and she said that is correct. I made the appointment in early March for cluster headaches and not wanting to go to the VA I used my spouses insurance plan (which I am on) to go to JH. The next available opening I was told for an ENT doctor was in June. There happened to be a cancellation at JH that week though luckily, and I was asked if I wanted it. I felt I was tricked into the more expensive option and wanting relief from migraines and cluster headaches I took it.
I brought my concerns to the billing office at JH, and customer service said "you signed the forms" that patients are required to sign saying you have insurance and allow the doctor to see you etc. She said it specifies something along the lines of 'bills of an unspecified nature'. That is hardly honorable and beyond reason to think I would be charged for waiting.
I spoke to my insurance and they said the coding was accurate but do not get into the nature of the services rendered. So Hopkins can call it what they want and charge for it.
Healthcare Bluebook rated the procedure at 1/3 of Hopkins fee and when I brought that up the billing office asked if I wanted to do a payment plan.
I went to the Better Business Bureau and they did nothing but take the report.
While waiting on the Better Business Bureau to assist me, Hopkins sent the bill to collections and I had 30 days to pay it or it would affect my credit. So, even though it sickened me I had to pay it. I would like to have had a lawyer go over it and check it for validity rather than have to cave for crooks but I do not have the money for that.
Hopefully someone will read and avoid this happening to them. Beware the clause stating "agree to fees of an unspecified nature".
