Repugnant
I was filled with nausea when I read THIS story about a plastic surgeon in CA who ruthlessly balance bills her ER patients. The good news is that the state is suing her after her refusal to cease and desist. She hopefully will lose her license.
She billed a pt’s insurance company for out of network benefits for fixing a guy’s fingertip he lost in a workplace injury. She wanted over 12 K but they gave her 3500$. She didn’t like that and instead of arguing with them about it, she billed the pt the rest! She got a lien put on his house and wrecked his credit! She continued to go after him even though the state told her to stop.
Her argument is that he was “stable” and that this was not an emergency! WTF?!?
The poor guy had a significant fingertip injury and although he was not “unstable” this clearly fit the definition of an emergency.
The saddest part is that I have seen this done by consultants at my hospital – mostly but not exclusively plastic surgeons.
It makes me want to puke. I hope she is made an example of and this greedy, unethical crap ends.
Monday, August 20th 2012 at 2:35 pm |
Just a thought, if it was a workplace accident why was workman’s comp not picking up the bill?
Tuesday, August 21st 2012 at 2:58 pm |
I understood that they picked up the amount of the bill they thought was justified for the procedure.
What a fucked up story in any case.
Monday, August 20th 2012 at 5:19 pm |
This is appalling. And the article says she’s been doing this for years to many patients. She must get up every day and think of all the ways she can screw people over.
Monday, August 20th 2012 at 8:06 pm |
Actually, it’s even worse. She DIDN’T balance bill the patient. She returned the $3500 check to his insurance company, THEN billed the patient for the entire $12K+.
Monday, August 20th 2012 at 9:28 pm |
Really grotesque. And you’re right that the most appalling aspect of the story is that it’s not an isolated incident but apparently a somewhat common practice. Hopefully, the notoriety of this case will help establish a precedent, settle the law and close the loophole.
Tuesday, August 21st 2012 at 12:42 am |
“Selesnick said the patients didn’t want an emergency room doctor to stitch them up, so they waited for a plastic surgeon. ‘They wanted a professional,’ he said.”
Niceeeeeeeeee.
Tuesday, August 21st 2012 at 3:25 am |
was she board certified in plastic surgery? the asps ethics committee would not approve. they have strict bylaws against such behavior.