GR! bloody ultrasound place...!!!!!

**ally1989** · 05-05-2011 22:33

this is just a vent. but any advice would be great.

i went to get an ultrasound done at 31 weeks due to bub head being to small for the rest of her body.. the dr was concerned.. so i booked in and went to the app.. they asked me how many i had, had since my last one and i said none.. i went for my last one at 22 weeks and 3 days ..
they said it would be bulked billed as i asked to double check coz we couldn't afford it at the place we went too.. but they were great last time and thought well if they bulked billed this time we would go their.. so we did..

anyways 2 weeks later, the receptionist rang and told me medicare had rejected my ultrasound and they lady wanted me to pay for it..because my first one was 3 days late after they couldn't get me in for a week.. and then i was further along then what i had expected..and we were in vic due to the floods.. so my first one couldn't be bulked billed.. they took it off my bulk billed one that is an ultrasound grater then 22 weeks..

so i rang medicare and tried to sort it out and for the ultrasound place to ring them as their could be a way to get around this..

I dont think i should have to pay anything, that was their mistake not mine, they should have looked at my records further.. and now she going on bout them being outta pocket $95 which i seriously can not afford.. so i dunno what to do..
should i pay it? do i have to ? or is it their mistake..?
sorry if u dont understand its bit all over the place lol.

**RmumR** · 05-05-2011 22:48

i wouldnt pay if it is their mistake. its for them to try and sort out with medicare. don't let them bully you into paying especially seeing as you checked with them before booking.

hope you and your bub are all ok

**ally1989** · 05-05-2011 22:52

Originally Posted by RmumR

i wouldnt pay if it is their mistake. its for them to try and sort out with medicare. don't let them bully you into paying especially seeing as you checked with them before booking.

hope you and your bub are all ok

Thats what i was thinking and what my partner thinks. Yeah she said that she rang them and was on the phone for them for half an hour and they tried but they couldn't do anything. Weather she actually did ring them or not. Yeah i defiantly checked before booking coz its $198 a scan coz they give u pictures, CD and 3D scan.. I just dont want them to send it to the debt collectors...

aw thank u .. we are doing good..

**RmumR** · 05-05-2011 22:56

Originally Posted by ally1989

Thats what i was thinking and what my partner thinks. Yeah she said that she rang them and was on the phone for them for half an hour and they tried but they couldn't do anything. Weather she actually did ring them or not. Yeah i defiantly checked before booking coz its $198 a scan coz they give u pictures, CD and 3D scan.. I just dont want them to send it to the debt collectors...

aw thank u .. we are doing good..

seeing as you checked id say its a bit of bad luck for them. they should have checked or had their records up to date so they could give you the correct info.

**ally1989** · 05-05-2011 23:08

its so hard to confront them coz im such a i dunno "pushover" i feel bad.. but i know that its wrong and i shouldn't have to pay anything. i just dunno how to say i wont be paying it..and what if they dont accept it ? :s lol.

**backgroundnoise** · 05-05-2011 23:20

Stand your ground. You don't have to pay it as you checked and they said that it was right and it's their mistake. Make sure they know it's their mistake and you cannot pay it at their fault.

**SassyBella** · 06-05-2011 08:54

Ally, if I were you I would write a letter to the practice manager and explain what has happened and that you are not satisfied, especially seeing as though you were told you would be bulk billed. More than likely you are dealing with the head receptionist at the moment. My DH is the manager of a number of medical imaging practices and ultimately all letters of complaint end up with him. It can't hurt to try! I hope you get the matter resolved

**nerdgirl99** · 06-05-2011 09:06

I had a similar thing happen to me - at my dating scan I found out I was 17 weeks and they tried to do the 18-20 week scan then. They couldn't get the measurements they needed as bub was all curled up so I had to rebook for the scan.

They put the 17 week scan as the 18-20 week code, and then when they did the ACTUAL 18-20 week scan I couldn't claim anything from medicare

I was told though that you can claim it on your tax return instead - so while you may be out of pocket immediately it's one extra thing you can claim come tax time.

Hope everything goes well for you and bub

**RmumR** · 06-05-2011 14:55

Originally Posted by IstforSassy

Ally, if I were you I would write a letter to the practice manager and explain what has happened and that you are not satisfied, especially seeing as though you were told you would be bulk billed. More than likely you are dealing with the head receptionist at the moment. My DH is the manager of a number of medical imaging practices and ultimately all letters of complaint end up with him. It can't hurt to try! I hope you get the matter resolved

good idea, write a letter explaining the situation to the manager. that way you have time to gather all the info and articulate it without the pressure of a face to face or phone conversation

**bluerhapsody** · 06-05-2011 15:25

Originally Posted by ally1989

Thats what i was thinking and what my partner thinks. Yeah she said that she rang them and was on the phone for them for half an hour and they tried but they couldn't do anything. Weather she actually did ring them or not. Yeah i defiantly checked before booking coz its $198 a scan coz they give u pictures, CD and 3D scan.. I just dont want them to send it to the debt collectors...

aw thank u .. we are doing good..

$198!? That's over the top!

I go to the Ultrasound Centre for Women in Upper Ferntree Gully (I think there's one in Ringwood too) and for DVD AND the session, it's $50 after Medicare rebate.

I would speak to my midwife/ob and ask for an emergency referral to a different US centre. It's unreasonable to expect you to make that money appear from nowhere and it's an important scan.