Consumer complaint received 2025-08-11 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Medical debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Community Health Investment Company, LLC.
State: NM

Complaint narrative:
I was a XXXX XXXX XXXX woman who was admitted to XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX after calling XXXX for extreme eye pressure and headache on the evening of XX/XX/XXXX. The Doctor suspected a XXXX and recommended to me that a XXXX XXXX be performed to rule out a XXXX. I was 99 % sure it was my eye, but. agreed- just to be sure. I was later wheeled over to a different area to have the scan done. I was rolled into a different room, never leaving the stretcher I was lying on. A XXXX XXXX was rolled into XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX. The XXXX  was performed and then I was brought back to my room in XXXX XXXX. There was never any mention oof a XXXX XXXX, nor was I administered the dye routinely used for an XXXX XXXX, or asked to remove my metal jewelry. After the procedure the doctor came in and told me it would be about an hour to get the results. An hour later, he came in and told my husband and me that the results showed my brain was clear, and that it was most likely XXXX XXXX and they would refer me to an XXXX  in the morning. After a very uncomfortable night I was XXXX  to go to XXXX XXXX XXXX where they attended to my needs and received XXXX XXXX in XXXX XXXX to relieve the pressure and correct my condition. 

I told them that my Medicare XXXX XXXX hadnt kicked in yet, and requested only essential treatment while there. XXXX, the financial rep verbally complied, saying I had the right to decline treatments deemed unnecessary. The XXXX presented me with the option of having a XXXX XXXX to rule out XXXX and I agreed, feeling this was an important thing. I was never approached about an XXXX or XXXX XXXX nor provided with the results of one. If I had been, I wouldve said no! Id told them that my XXXX  and XXXX was just the normal reaction my body has when in XXXX  XXXX and/or stress. A XXXX XXXX was NEVER mentioned my entire time there. 

A week or so later I received the bill for my XXXX XXXX, totaling approximately {$23000.00}, and was floored! They submitted it to Medicare and it declined ( since my coverage was not in effect until XX/XX/XXXXXXXX  ). They then sent me an adjusted bill at the self-pay tier for approximately {$6700.00}. Shortly after, they began demanding the payment- which we couldnt pay, so they sent it to XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX to set up a payment plan. 

We were busy with my eye treatments and upcoming XXXX  XXXX when another bill came a couple months later. My husband looked over the itemized bill and suddenly noticed that on Line XXXX, right beneath the XXXX XXXX XXXX was a XXXX XXXX XXXX  which was over $ XXXX almost XXXX of my total bill! We were both shocked as this was never mentioned or done during my stay and was unrelated to my condition, which was my head. Thinking it was an error, I immediately contacted them. The billing dept. said they would put it under review and get back to us. Several days later I received a certified letter via XXXX. Basically a short boiler plate letter stating that the XXXX XXXX  had been performed and documented. Also stating that it was justified because when questioned I answered Yes- that Id experienced XXXX  and XXXX after the onset of symptoms. The letter closed saying that I was financially responsible for the XXXX. No proof, documentation supporting their findings, or further steps to take were provided. Just a demand to pay. 

Ive been very stressed out over this for 7 months now, fruitlessly searching out legal advice, finding that there are no Lawyers in NM who handle Medical Billing Fraud, except when the plaintiff is the Provider, not the Patient. I was shocked to find no available options for a patient when it comes to billing fraud. I was finally referred to the NM Bar Association website. Searched for a Lawyer there to no avail, and finally called them. They assured me I would get a call back from a Lawyer to advise me within a week, which I did. This woman advised me to submit a complaint to XXXX, and that even though they handle ins fraud, they could help me, or steer me in the right direction. She also said there were 3 laws in NM that protect my interests in this case. 
1 ) NM Surprise Billing Act 2 ) NM Unfair & Deceitful Trade Practices Act 3 ) NM Patient Debt Collection Protection Act Shortly afterwards ( a little over a week ago ), I filed my complaint to XXXX, describing my case. Three days ago I heard back from XXXX XXXX, Compliance Analyst for the XXXX XXXX XXXX. She informed me that XXXX does not handle billing fraud unless its insurance-related, which I already figured was the case. XXXX referred me to the NM Dept. of Justice, so here I am, still seeking the advice and help I need to get out from under this crushing and wrongful debt. It has consumed my time and energy over my months of recovery. It has kept me from sleeping well and in a state of constant stress. I initially contacted the XXXX directly, but just got the runaround from department to department, taking a week to finally get to the key person XXXX XXXX in Billing. But he simply said it was out of his hands and all he can do is put under review. And that did not end well. Im paying the nearly {$300.00} per month payment plan, and it is severely impacting our already tight budget. I would like this case thoroughly investigated and XXXX XXXX held accountable for this fraudulent item on my bill. I dont know how it happened, whether it was a mistake, or intentional fraud, but it needs to be made right.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation