Billing at CNMC vs KKI

[Anonymous]

Has anyone noticed weirdness in the way that these two places bill clients? We have a version of Carefirst. On a Friday we saw a physician for a consult at CNMC. It was us in a little room talking--the equivalent of an office visit--no tests or anything else fancy. The following Monday we had an appt at KKI--same type of appt--just a consult like an office visit. (It was just chance that the appts happened to be back to back.) As far as I know the two physicians we saw practice only at their respective hospital.

The insurance statements and bills come. CNMC wants a co-pay as if we had just had an office visit with a doctor. KKI wants that too but is also trying to pass along a $500 fee because the visit took place within a hospital. Their billing office said that their contract with Carefirst allows them to pass along the fee but I'm confused how this is possible since if they accept Carefirst they have to also accept their billing scheme. The Carefirst agent agreed it looked weird and resubmitted the claim.

Has anyone else noticed this difference?

[Anonymous]

The $500 fee is outrageous! We haven't had that problem yet at KKI, but thanks for posting this... now I'll make sure I pay extra close attention to the next bills we receive from them.

[Anonymous]

We have Kaiser insurance and it was just straight co-pays from both CNMC and KKI.

[Anonymous]

Do not have carefirst but I have not noticed odd things about billing at KKI or CNMC. could it be Carefirst?

[Anonymous]

Very odd. Our DS recently did neuropsych testing at KKI. They took care of all the insurance clearance in advance and we've yet to get a bill. Very odd that there would be that kind of fee.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we have gotten the $500 fee at KKI for an office visit, and our insurance company told us it was standard protocol. I think we had the same fee at CNMC as well.

[Anonymous]

Insurance covered 85 percent of the cost of our testing/visits at KKI -- so, while the fee may be high for an office visit, insurance likely will pick up the vast majority of it.

[Anonymous]

We've gone to KKI for years and never had this happen. You need to talk with a billing clerk supervisor. Don't pay it.

[Anonymous]

We had a major billing error from CNMC-we're talking HUGE, but they were very good about correcting things when I brought it to their attention so I give them kudos for that.