Dissatisfied with billing practices

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with Everett Clinic’s billing. I scheduled my annual biometric screening, which is paid for by my company and a requirement to get insurance. After all was said and done I received a bill for this free service. Apparently when my doctor asked how my back was doing, I should have been sworn to secrecy, because our little 30-second conversation about how bad my back always is was worth $191.55. He offered to give a referral to physical therapy or other means of looking at it, which I was not interested in. I have done many things over the years and have given up on it, rather than waste thousands and not getting a better back. When I called the billing department about it they said it was coded properly. Even though I had asked for a biometric screening I guess we’re not supposed to talk to the doctor.

In my opinion, medical “care” is an industry that is allowed to charge whatever they want, with little checks and balances. I would refuse to pay this bill, but of course they’ll just send me to a bill collector and hit my credit. So of course I’ll pay, along with the rest of America.

Sterling Gurney

Lake Stevens