Medical bills reimbursements

[amberlea434]

What is the name of your state? TN

My husband and his ex recently had their CO revised. In the new order, it states...

"Mother shall provide, postmarked by the last day of each month, copies of all medical records, deductibles or co-payments, and other medical expense invoices to the Father via USPS. Upon Mother providing required information, Father shall have thirty (30) days to reimburse his pro-rata share of expenses."

He interprets this to mean, basically, if she wants to be reimbursed, she has to send all of that information to him first. She disagrees and says it's not her responsibility to send him any kind of records because he can call the doctors and get them himself. Their child goes to the doctor a lot, so he receives medical bills every month. But, all it ever is is a pharmacy print-out showing what medications she bought throughout the month and a generic receipt from the doctor's office showing that she was, in fact, there. But, no copies of what the doctor did or a diagnosis.

To him, the order is obvious in what she is supposed to provide to him. Is he wrong?

 

[tuffbrk]

She is providing the receipt from the doctor's office and the pharmacy print out. What more is he looking for? Generally a Dr's receipt has checked box(es) which indicates what the diagnosis was found to be and the treatment provided, if any. The information is usually a reference for medical billing purposes. Any additional information that he wants, he can simply pick up the phone and call the doctor. He can also attend the visits, etc.

Sounds to me like nit-picking but I may be missing something obvious to others.

 

[amberlea434]

But, per the order, it states that SHE is supposed to provide the medical records if she wants to be reimbursed. Doesn't really seem like nit-picking when the order specifically tells her to do something and she's refusing to do it. And the receipt from the doctor's office doesn't have anything on it but the date and check number she used to pay for the visit. Also, he can't attend all of her doctor visits because we live out of state.

 

[jbowman]

And the receipt from the doctor's office doesn't have anything on it but the date and check number she used to pay for the visit. .

If the receipt from the doctor's office doesn't have the amount paid, then I dont think that it could be called a receipt.

If it does have the amount she paid, it is a receipt and therefore gives the information that dad needs to reimburse mom for 1/2 of the amount paid.

Are you expecting mom to give you copies of x-rays taken and all doctors notes? MOM would not even get that when she leaves the appointment. You are being a bit ridiculous and I would think a judge would feel the same. The point is reimbursing her for 1/2 of what she paid for the child. So when you get the receipt, just pay her back. Why are you looking for a loophole?

 

[amberlea434]

If the receipt from the doctor's office doesn't have the amount paid, then I dont think that it could be called a receipt.

If it does have the amount she paid, it is a receipt and therefore gives the information that dad needs to reimburse mom for 1/2 of the amount paid.

Are you expecting mom to give you copies of x-rays taken and all doctors notes? MOM would not even get that when she leaves the appointment. You are being a bit ridiculous and I would think a judge would feel the same. The point is reimbursing her for 1/2 of what she paid for the child. So when you get the receipt, just pay her back. Why are you looking for a loophole?

So what, in your opinion, are "copies of all medical records" that she's supposed to provide to be reimbursed, as required in the order? Not being smart, I'm seriously asking.

 

[jbowman]

So what, in your opinion, are "copies of all medical records" that she's supposed to provide to be reimbursed, as required in the order? Not being smart, I'm seriously asking.

Ok, since you asked for my opinion, I would think it would be anything the doctor handed me as I left the appointment. But I know any time I have gone to the doctor, I dont get a slew of "medical records". If you are going to take the order that literal, then seriously, I guess you are expecting everything done in this entire child's life everytime mom wants to get reimbursed for a $25 co-pay.

 

[amberlea434]

Ok, since you asked for my opinion, I would think it would be anything the doctor handed me as I left the appointment. But I know any time I have gone to the doctor, I dont get a slew of "medical records".

Thank you. That's exactly what she should be sending copies of. Nobody ever said a slew of medical records. My husband has taken their child to the doctor before and, every time, the doctor hands him a sheet of paper stating what she was there for, any kind of tests he ran and a diagnosis, if any. And he has sent copies of those to mom, explaining to her that's the "copies of medical records" that she needs to send. She refuses. I know ya'll think this is nit-picking, but the judge put that in the CO for a reason. And it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect mom to follow his orders.

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

And if mom doesn't get that when she leaves, exactly what is she supposed to send? I have NEVER received anything like that from a regular doctor - have from ER and urgent cares. Personally, dad should just fork the 1/2 over when he receives the receipt. If he wants more info, DAD should go to the doctor's office and ASK.

There seem to be a number of dad's who expect life to be spoonfed to them.

 

[amberlea434]

And if mom doesn't get that when she leaves, exactly what is she supposed to send? I have NEVER received anything like that from a regular doctor - have from ER and urgent cares. Personally, dad should just fork the 1/2 over when he receives the receipt. If he wants more info, DAD should go to the doctor's office and ASK.

There seem to be a number of dad's who expect life to be spoonfed to them.

It's not about being spoonfed, it's about following a court order. Are you saying they get to pick and choose which parts of the order they want to abide by?

 

[fairisfair]

It's not about being spoonfed, it's about following a court order. Are you saying they get to pick and choose which parts of the order they want to abide by?

no, what they are saying is that the judge did not intend what you are suggesting by the order that was written, what WAS intended was that Mom remit to dad, in a timely manner, receipts necessary for reimbursement for medical expenses; and that dad reimburse in a timely manner.

Go ahead and turn it into a cluster f***, mom can motion to clarify, and dad can face the wrath of the judge. It is obvious what the intent of the order is.

 

[amberlea434]

no, what they are saying is that the judge did not intend what you are suggesting by the order that was written, what WAS intended was that Mom remit to dad, in a timely manner, receipts necessary for reimbursement for medical expenses; and that dad reimburse in a timely manner.

Go ahead and turn it into a cluster f***, mom can motion to clarify, and dad can face the wrath of the judge. It is obvious what the intent of the order is.

How do you know what the judge intended? Were you there? If it was only receipts required for reimbursements, he would have only said receipts. He didn't. He made a specific list of what she has to provide to be reimbursed. Why? Because in the past, it was never clarified. Now it is. I find it amazing that ya'll are, more or less, saying that specific part of the order doesn't matter and it's not what the judge meant. To me, it's very black and white.

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

And if MOM doesn't get these items when she leaves the doctor's office, what are you proposing? The receipt normally will show a diagnosis. Receipts from prescriptions won't show much. Exactly what is it that you want from mom?

 

[amberlea434]

And if MOM doesn't get these items when she leaves the doctor's office, what are you proposing? The receipt normally will show a diagnosis. Receipts from prescriptions won't show much. Exactly what is it that you want from mom?

But she DOES get these items. That's what I'm trying to tell you. My husband has taken their child to this doctor before, he KNOWS what they give you. I don't see why this is so hard to understand. And, no, the receipts do not show a diagnosis. He wants mom to follow the order. That's all. He's spoken to her numerous times about it and she keeps saying it's not her responsibility. But, how could it not be whenever it specifically states that it is. We're going around in circles with this, so I thank ya'll for your time. He was hoping to get a legal answer from here instead of having to consult his attorney with it, but it looks like that's where he has to go for an answer.

 

[fairisfair]

How do you know what the judge intended? Were you there? If it was only receipts required for reimbursements, he would have only said receipts. He didn't. He made a specific list of what she has to provide to be reimbursed. Why? Because in the past, it was never clarified. Now it is. I find it amazing that ya'll are, more or less, saying that specific part of the order doesn't matter and it's not what the judge meant. To me, it's very black and white.

he made a specific list of things that might be considered proof of payment for reimbursement.

Yeah, to YOU it is black and white, because it is what you want to see.

File a motion to clarify.

 

[amberlea434]

he made a specific list of things that might be considered proof of payment for reimbursement.

Yeah, to YOU it is black and white, because it is what you want to see.

File a motion to clarify.

I've suggested that, as well. But, the way it's worded with "and" instead of "or" makes my husband believe otherwise. "And" meaning all of it, "or" meaning at least one of them. Thank you for suggesting to file a motion to clarify. If he talks to his attorney and it's not clarified, then he'll do that.