How is it not considered extortion and defamation?

Question

I was hospitalized late last year for a period of 4 months.Due to a lack of income I was eligible for Medicaid.My Medicaid number was given to all parties who treated me after I got out of the hospital.By the time I got around to checking my credit reports there was negative information posted by collection agencies before I even got out of hospital.I've given my number to the worst of all of these companies ACB Receivables Management.They still insist I was not covered when everyone else has already received their payments and refuse to remove the negative information even after I presented them with a letter from NJDHS that claims that I was covered during the time that I was reported for.ACB still insists that I was not covered even though I've given them proof that I was and edicaid covers all of the treatments that I received.Mycredit score has dropped to below 600 and this is the only negative information on my reports.I've disputed with all three bureaus and they will not remove

Thanks for the suggestion about office of the Attorney General.They've done nothing at all and ACB was reported to them months ago by me on this matter.I've also contacted the FTC who says that they don't handle this kind of thing.

UMMM.I did clearly state that I've disputed it several times with all three bureaus.So doing it for the third time really won't help will it.ACB continues to respond that the debt is valid

BBB is a joke too.They just take money from companies that belong to the BBB and hide the complaints so that the companies will still pay them.

Answer 1

I've been there, done that myself.

Luckily the credit forum I frequent has information, and links to more info, about using HIPAA to handle just this sort of thing.

I would suggest going to the site I've listed and do some reading in the newbie forum and then in the medical forum. Learn how to use HIPAA to handle this.

When using this, you will be dealing with the original medical provider not the collection agency. And, after you send the info to the original med. provider, they are required to recall your file from the collection agency and make sure the collection agency not only delete all of the information about you in their own files, but remove anything they have placed on your reports.

In my case, within a week after sending out the letters I had full deletion from my reports. While some people don't see the same quick results, this method is still better than trying to deal with the collection agency.

The person who put together the letters has done a tremendous amount of research into HIPAA and has done an excellent job in writing up in an easy to follow step by step guide for those who need it.

The site I've listed is a free site. All of the info on there is free to read and use.

Answer 2

At least you have learned why I laugh when people on this forum recommend that you call the Attorney General or the FTC to complain. Trust me folks....it does no good.

I have a lot of respect for Echo's advice. I need to do some homework in the HIPAA law, but from my real quick research I don't see how this helps with a credit reporting issue. I need to read up a lot more about it.

What I need to know is this. You say Medicade covered the procedure? You have a letter saying this?

It seems to me that the next thing you need to do is present this information to the medical provider (ignore the colleciton agent). They have to file a claim with Medicare and collect their money. Once that is done, they can call off the collection agency and the item will have to be erased from your credit history.

You can talk until you are blue in the face, but the collection agent can not file claims with Medicare, only the doctor/medical facility can.

So what am I missing? Has this been done? Until the bill gets paid they have every right to go after you. It's right there in the paperwork you signed when you went to the hospital.

So for now, you need to get those two groups talking to each other so the doctor can get paid. Then, if they are listing this on your credit report, we have a very clear action against them.

But until the bill is paid I don't think you can get the collection agent off your back.

Answer 3

When you check your free credit report this year on Annualcreditreport.com send a dispute. You send the dispute directly to the credit bureau. Tell them that you have supporting docs, etc that prove that this was covered. They will contact the debtor directly and the burden of proof will then be on them to prove you really weren't covered.

I had a different situation, but it was also healthcare related. I had a collection on my credit report for a local hospital here that I had never been a patient in, I received notice in writing about two weeks later from the credit bureau saying that everything was okay.

Good luck.

Suz

Answer 4

Better Business Bureau and your state's Attorney General's Office - give them a call.