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[IamReady05]

Hello everyone,

Just wanted a little advise. I used the dv on SCA Collections and all I got was an itemized bill. They stated because it was a medical record, this is all the orginal creditor would give them. I filed a complaint with the CRA and it came back as verified. What do I do now? I have sent SCA a second response stated it wasn't good enough but they have yet to respond. I am stuck. Please help, any info would be useful, thanks a bunch.

[retmar]

They are correct in their response as to all they can receive from the OC. Since HIPAA went into effect, all personal info is forbidden to be given to anyone but the patient. Even your insurance only receives a specific reference number for billing purposes. As to the itemized statement, it is sufficient as long as it contains the letterhead of the provider, the name of patient, date of service, total amount billed, total amount of adjustments, such as agreed writeoffs from insurances, all payments and other credits from insurance, and the exact amount of the patient's responsibility. Also, it should not contain any actual type of service, only reference numbers, if sent to the CA. If sent to you, they can include actual services and numbers.

I would respond to the CA that you are aware of HIPAA and do understand the liabilities if the CA does obtain possession of the personal information. Therefore, you assumed the OC would send to you in their own envelope the required information. As to if the CA can collect, etc., it should have also been included in the letter. Most times you will find it on the form you sign when you accept treatment, such as in the ER. At the same time, if insurance is involved, and there are services not paid for by insurance, the OC must meet the requirments of their agreement with the insurance before they can bill you. Your main goal here is to be assured the amount they claim is the correct amount, that any fees and /or interest added, is noted on the form you signed before treatment. This also includes verbiage as to the account be assigned if you default. If this was a Doctor's visit, you usually only sign the form once when you first go for treatment. Then the original is kept in your file.

To add, if you did have insurance, contact them and have copies of the EOB's sent to you for reference. You also want to ask what the rules and regs are as to their agreement with the OC. someitmes an OC's rep will attempt to bill the patient for something they shouldn't in hopes you will pay without asking. In short, you are only liable for the amount shown on the EOB as your responsibility or co-pay.

[IamReady05]

So, you are telling me the fact that they only sent an itemized bill, it shows me that it was validated? So, am I stuck? Because it is from a doctor's visit and I had no insurance. I guess it will stay on my credit. I don't know what else to do.