Consumer complaint received 2017-05-25
Company: FMA Alliance, Ltd.
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation
Sub-issue: Attempted to collect wrong amount

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I went to XXXX XXXX Hospital Emergency room with a XXXX XXXX. I was triaged for a XXXX XXXX, and ultimately diagnosed with a XXXX XXXX, both non-life-threatening conditions. In XX/XX/XXXX I received a surprise medical bill from XXXX XXXX. I requested an itemized bill, and it took two requests, the second sent by certified mail, before XXXX XXXX complied. XXXX XXXX had charged me forXXXX XXXX XXXX the highest level of emergency room care, based on the assumption of a life threatening situation. XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX are not life-threatening. At the very most, my condition and the care it received could possibly considered level XXXX as a stretch. But even if my care had been level XXXX, the {$3000.00} charged for it would not be appropriate. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the in-network charge for the highest level of emergency room visit, Emergency department visit - high severity and threat, should be a billed charge of {$1000.00} in the XXXX XXXX region. In actuality, given the actual level of the condition and treatment, the billed charge should have been for {$470.00}, for in-network Emergency department visit moderate severity in the XXXX XXXX region. XXXX XXXX also charged me is {$2500.00} for a XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Texas Department of Insurance states the in-network billed charge for this procedure should be {$1800.00} in the XXXX XXXX region. I attempted to address this disputed charge with XXXX XXXX multiple times : XX/XX/XXXX I sent an email to XXXX requesting an itemized statement per my rights and their obligations under 311.002 ( b ) of the Texas Health and Safety Code. XXXX XXXX ignored this request.
SXX/XX/XXXX I sent XXXX XXXX a letter ( USPS Certified Number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ) reiterating my request for an itemized statement. I received the itemized statement on XX/XX/XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX I sent XXXX XXXX a letter ( USPS First Class ) disputing the two charges ( Reference Numbers XXXX and XXXX ) per details in the Basis of Dispute Disputed Charges section above. I never received a response from XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX I sent XXXX XXXX a second notice letter identical to the XX/XX/XXXX letter, this time via Certified mail ( XXXX Certified Number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Again I never received a response from XXXX XXXX. XX/XX/XXXX I contacted my insurance provider, XXXX XXXX XXXX Texas, to apprise them of the incorrect billing codes and my inability to get a response from XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX said that she would request the medical records from XXXX XXXX and review them. XX/XX/XXXX I again contacted XXXX XXXX with XXXX XXXX of Texas for an update, she stated she had not received any records from XXXX XXXX Because of XXXX XXXX 's refusal to communicate with me or my insurance company, I filed a complaint with the Texas Department of State Health Services against XXXX XXXX for improper billing. I provided all the above information and a copy of my detailed TDSHS complaint to FMA Alliance when I sent them a letter disputing the validity of the debt. FMA 's only response was to send me the same incorrect itemized bill I had received from XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX. Simply resending the same bill which is under dispute IS NOT a " verification '' of the validity of a debt in dispute.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation