Consumer complaint received 2019-08-24
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: I.C. System, Inc. (MD)

On XX/XX/XXXX, I gave birth to my daughter, XXXX, in an in-network hospital in XXXX, MD. I have insurance through XXXX. 
On XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX was briefly seen by the hospital pediatric nurse practitioner, XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( My regular pediatrican did not have rights at that hospital so we had to use the hospital 's contracted pediatrician. ) On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX sent me a letter with their fully requested bill of {$1100.00} asking for assistance in getting my insurance to pay them. I forwarded this information to XXXX. 
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX paid XXXX XXXX a total of {$590.00}, which represented their in-network, 'reasonable and customary ' rates for the pediatrician services. I received a XXXX and an Explanation of Benefits to this effect, clearly stating that " We have arranged discounted rates with this provider. Your provider should not bill you for [ the balance ], it is a discount you receive by being a member of this plan ; '' and that my financial responsibility was {$0.00}. 
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX sent XXXX and copied me on a letter asking again to be paid for their full amount of {$1100.00}. 
On that same day, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX sent me a bill for the remaining {$580.00} with a statement that " your insurance carrier advises the balance is your responsibility, '' which was misleading and patently untrue. They also sent me a letter to notify me of their appeal to XXXX and noted that " regardless of the outcome of the appeal, you will need to pay your co-insurance and deductibles. '' For this particular service, that was {$0.00}. 
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX sent XXXX a letter in response to their appeal, upholding their original decision to pay a total of {$590.00}, adhering to their reasonable and customary rates. 

I did not hear anything further from either XXXX or XXXX about the matter for some months and had considered it closed. 

On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from IC System , Inc, whom XXXX had hired for bill collection. They attempted to collect the {$580.00} that XXXX still wanted ( despite it being above reasonable and customary rates for these services ) and notified me that i had 30 days to dispute the charge before they would contact credit bureaus. 
I had been out of town when the letter arrived, so upon receiving it, I sent a letter on XXXX XXXX, XXXX ( postmarked XX/XX/XXXX ) to IC System disputing the debt, explaining the circumstances, and attaching a copy of the Claim from XXXX showing that my responsibility was {$0.00}. I sent a copy to XXXX by mail as well as to XXXX, online. 
On XXXX XXXX, XXXX, in response to my correspondence, XXXX told me via secure email that they would re-review, yet again, the claim from XXXX XXXX. That is between XXXX and XXXX ( personally, the reasonable and customary rate payment already made on XXXX of {$590.00} seemed appropriate to me ; but that is between them ). XXXX also attempted to contact IC System on my behalf but were denied, with IC System saying they needed my permission. 
I called IC System on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and disputed the claim again via phone while I waited for the mail to arrive. I also gave IC System my permission for them to speak with XXXX. 
I believe IC System and XXXX spoke on or about XX/XX/XXXX but I do not know what was said. 
I called IC System again on XXXX XXXX, XXXX and asked for an update but they said they had not yet processed my letter ( sent one week prior ). This is where things stand today. 

In sum : I owe {$0.00} to XXXX and therefore {$0.00} to IC System. XXXX was incorrect to hire IC System to collect this amount in the first place and IC System was incorrect to pursue it. I additionally wish to note that I believe Maryland, where I reside and where the XXXX XXXX were provided, has outlawed balance billing for situations where there is an in-network facility and an out-of-network provider ( as happened in this situation ).