Consumer complaint received 2025-10-16 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: FMA Alliance, Ltd.
State: LA

Complaint narrative:
I was referred for routine screening mammogram by my PCP in XX/XX/year>. I asked my PCP why she was referring me to a new XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX and she told me its in net work. In the past she used to refer me another imaging center where I NEVER had billing issues. So I got a call from XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX and I told them to verify my insurance card and see if I can get a routine screening mammogram at their facility. The billing lady told me she will contact me after verfying with my insurance. I later got a call from her telling me she had verified with my insurance and that I need to make an appointment with the XXXX imaging center for my screening mammogram. On the day of service, I again asked the receptionist and technician if this test was covered by my insurance and she again assured me repeatedly it was all covered. After getting my screening mammogram, i asked at the check out if i owed them anything, meaning pay them anything and again i was told no you dont have to pay anything since its a screening mammogram and your insurance covers it. Many months later, I got a bill in the amount of {$590.00} from XXXX XXXX XXXX  telling me i owe them this amount. I immdediately called the office and i was told they had indeed told me it was covered, but now i have to pay this amount. I went to their center and asked to speak with their doctor or manager, and again i was told they initially did tell me the service was covered by my insurance, but now i have pay the amount. So i called lourdes medical center and spoke with the billing department and told them to show me how they were billing me {$590.00} for a routine mammogram. When they showed me the bill, it said hospital charges. I told them I NEVER was seen at a hospital!!! it was a small, old imaging center. So they are commiting fraud. Then I asked them why was the screening mammogram so expensive?? In my entire life, i have never seen a routine mammogram being this expensive. I was told it was because I received treatment. again that is fraud. I NEVER recived any treatment. I just went for my routine screening mammogram referred by my PCP. After that I even messaged my PCP and told her the whole story and questioned her why she referred me to a new facility. She hasnt responded. My bill was sent to a debt collector called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, TX. I wrote a letter to them disputing my bill. I even called them to verify if they had received my dispute letter. I was told they had received it. But yesterday, i again got a letter from the debt collector. So I called them today and their XXXX XXXX acted extremely rude, unprofessional and kept interrupting me. She even giggled and i heard her say " omg this is hilarious " so i told her she needs training for better customer service. I told her I have already written a dispute letter and they are still sending me a new letter. 
AS a XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX, as an XXXX, I understand medical billing and coding really well. I work in private practice and even in surgical centers and I know how my bill for screening mammogram is incorrect. The code under which it was filed was showing " hospital testing " when in reality I NEVER went to a hospital. This XXXX XXXX XXXX is obviously doing fraud by over charging their patients under hospital codes. But its not a hospital where i was seen. 
My credit score is exceptionally good /excellent and I have NEVER had this issue in my entire life where a medical facility is doing fraud and involving me rude, incompetent, unprofessional debt collectors. I feel debt collector is harassing me now with the way they spoke with me over the phone today. One lady even lied to me blatantly!!

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief