Consumer complaint received 2023-01-04
Company: Summit Collection Services, Inc.
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX XXXX NJ, XXXX a professional debt collection agency is trying to collect on outstanding medical bill balance from a XXXX Health Care provider called " XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX'. I was receiving XXXX XXXX health services from The XXXX XXXX in XXXX of 2019. The XXXX XXXX billed my primary insurance company receive payment and failed to submit the remaining balance to my secondary insurance carrier through XXXX. They are forcing me to pay to the remaining balance they didn't receive from the primary insurance. The violation comes into play when I was disputing the charges with the collection agency. Summit Collection agency sent to me in the mail a copy of " Commitment To Treat/Safety Plan '' form, XXXX XXXX inquiries, and email communication they had with health care provider/XXXX XXXX XXXX regarding my XXXX XXXX health services. On these document contain my personal information Name, Date of Birth, Medical Record Number, Health Care Insurance agency Name, Date of Service, Claim Number, my personal treatment plan. All this information is in violation of HIPPA Law. I never gave permission to the XXXX XXXX XXXX to disclose my personal medical information or treatment plan to a third party agency. Summit Collection reported this information to XXXX Credit Bureau. My original agreement for XXXX  medical services was with The XXXX XXXX not Summit Collection Agency. The XXXX XXXX received payment from my primary health insurance carrier and they failed to bill my secondary insurance carrier for remaining balance. The XXXX XXXX receive their contract payment from the primary insurance carrier and by law they can't and should not be balance billing me for the difference. They agree to the contact rate with the primary health insurance carrier and that is payment in full. Because The XXXX XXXX failed to submit medical claims accurately through both insurance plan they are threatening me and damaging my personal credit. The biggest violation is disclosing my Protected Health Information to a third party agency without my permission. The employee who disclosed the medical form/treatment plan, Financial Snapshot inquiries, and email communication to the collection agency her name is XXXX XXXX XXXX ID XXXX email XXXX. I formally written a dispute letter to XXXX providing proof HIPPA violation, proof of the claim showing The XXXX XXXX received payment for the medical services render. I sent all the documentation along with my copy of my ID & Social Security number via Certified Mail with United States Postal Service. XXXX responded back to my dispute stated they contacted the collection agency and confirmed the debt was valid ; which is false. They didn't explain or provide proof on how they confirm the debt was valid nor even address the violation of HIPPA Law. I attached all both form and email communication that shows XXXX XXXX XXXX  submitted to Summit Collection Agency disclosing my PHI which is in violation of HIPPA.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation