Medical collections/HIPAA process

[Liza]

Thanks Chane....
so should I just send a letter to TU disputing that the paid debt is actually mine? Or have them verify that it is mine? Thanks again...I will be thrilled to get this off....My Ex and EQ scores are mid 700s, but the dang TU score has stayed at 680 forever....even after a year of spotless payment on my car loan! This collection really seems to be holding it down (as I have no collections showing on the other CA reports).

[chane]

Originally Posted by Liza

Thanks Chane....
so should I just send a letter to TU disputing that the paid debt is actually mine? Or have them verify that it is mine? Thanks again...I will be thrilled to get this off....My Ex and EQ scores are mid 700s, but the dang TU score has stayed at 680 forever....even after a year of spotless payment on my car loan! This collection really seems to be holding it down (as I have no collections showing on the other CA reports).

I wouldn't give a reason. Just tell them you are disputing it.

[kierra87]

i have four medical bills from a couple of years ago, they are all from different healthcare providers but are with the same CA. I am just starting the HIPAA process and just wanted to know if I should send the CRA's separate letters for each bill or just send it all in one letter since it's with the same CA? Thanks so much!

[nayadi]

Hello Trish,
I found your contact on here after browsing about the hippa process. I'm in a bit of a difficult situation and would really appreciate your help.

I've posted about my problem in other forums and haven't received a definitive answer yet. Would you mind viewing my post below and offering some advice? Thank you very very much.

Post 1
Hello,

I found out this week that $132 in medical bills was sent to collections while I was home for a month recovering from surgery a week after I moved to a new address. Because of the move I believe that some bills did not reach me as I didn't file a change of address until a month later later due to my recovery. I was also not notified that the account was going to collections. However these collections have not been reported on my report but according to the CA they will soon.

When I called the hospital/OC, they were ready to take a payment over the phone but advised it would payments would post quicker with the CA. Here are my questions:

1) Does this mean they have assigned and not sold the debt to the CA?

2) The person at billing with the OC said something about me having a 30-day period during which I could have prevented it from going on my CR. I think I only missed this by a few days. Does this make any difference?

3) I'm ready to PFD if this is the best way to go so they don't make it on to my report. Should I GW both the hospital and CA also? And is there a difference between PFD and GW in this case? From what you've said it sounds like a GW is only good IF i've already paid of the collection or charge-off.

4) Would it help to try and deal with the hospital or doctor directly to prevent them from going on my CR?

Post 2 (posted today)
Hello again,

I called the hospitals to settle the bill today based on advice from the forum. They said since it has been sent to collections they can't receive a payment. However one hospital was willing to accept a payment but only after checking on the interests and other adjustments with the CA. Would this still be paying directly to the OC and will it keep if off my report? For the other hospital that will completely not accept a payment (and probably for both at this point), I'm thinking of just sending the HIPPA letter. Please let me know if this is still the way to go as I'm very confused. I also received a call from the CA today asking about the debt and I told that them I will be speaking directly to the hospital. What bothers me is that this is a small debt (132) but because of work travel and surgery I could not get it paid on time. Please help! Would it help to talk directly to the related doctors? I'm worried that if I don't make a payment or take action before the end of the month it'll end up on my CR this coming month.

[chane]

Trish hasn't been around for awhile. I believe she is grieving a death in the family. I don't know if or when she will be back.

[eiznik]

I have two paid medical accounts on my credit. I paid the hospital and not the collection agency even though the accounts had been sent to a collection agency. Now I want to have the paid accounts removed. From what I've read, I can try the HIPPA letter process, but it is very confusing. Can someone tell me what step to take FIRST? I have read all of the info on the HIPPA links.

[nayadi]

Thank you Chane. That's sad news, I'll keep Trish in my prayers. Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[JaegerGentry]

Let me see if I understand the HIPAA method.

I have a medical bill that went to a third party CA thats still within the SOL I want to:

1) Send a medical dispute letter to the CRA's--use light colored ink, handwrite and send certified but not return receipt (what is the purpose of these special instructions?)
2)Then I want to contact the hospital and send them payment with a restrictive endorsemment--send it CMRRR and to their HIPAA officer
3)And then I want to redispute with the CRA's

This HiPAA process should work, because of the medical privacy laws, right?

Thanks for your help!!

[Trish]

Originally Posted by JaegerGentry

Let me see if I understand the HIPAA method.

I have a medical bill that went to a third party CA thats still within the SOL I want to:

1) Send a medical dispute letter to the CRA's--use light colored ink, handwrite and send certified but not return receipt (what is the purpose of these special instructions?)
2)Then I want to contact the hospital and send them payment with a restrictive endorsemment--send it CMRRR and to their HIPAA officer
3)And then I want to redispute with the CRA's

This HiPAA process should work, because of the medical privacy laws, right?

Thanks for your help!!

Kinda....you just left out a couple of parts...

1 is really to opt out and update/delete as much personal info as possible
THEN you do the initial medical dispute letter. The reason why you send it CM only and handwritten (or purple/teal italic font) is so the CRAs computer sorting system cannot read your dispute and it will have to be forwarded to and opened by an actual person. It just makes your chances better and keeps it out of the automated system.

You do not do anything else until you get the results of the medical dispute. Then once you have the results with the name of the original healthcare provider, you can move on to #2.

3. Once you know that the check/MO has been cashed, you then send the follow up letter to the OC along with a copy of your "redispute" letter that you will send to the CRA.


Hope that helped some..
Let me know if you still have any questions.

[zcrider01]

I have so many medical bills from so many different collection agencies that I dont know where to start. I am confused, tired and just want to start paying them down so they will leave me alone. I just dont know where to start. I have pulled all three CR's and they all differ