Medical office charged me $200 plus "fees" for a missed appointment

[jacques001]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Massachusetts

I learned recently that a medical office I used to visit for appointments has been trying to collect $200 for a "no show" in addition to "fees" of so far $50.0 for about 6 months due to a change in my address that I hadn't gotten any of the bills. The fees have been added because I didn't respond/pay to the original $200.

I called and explained my co-pay was $25 and my insurance was active at the time, which they confirmed, however they said they couldn't bill insurance since I didn't show up, but somehow decided to bill me for the hour of the doctor's labor ($200), even though no labor was performed (it was a routine appointment, not a surgery, etc.).

I don't recall having scheduled the appointment, and it's possible it was automatically scheduled without my knowledge, as I never miss my appointments, and I certainly wouldn't have missed an appointment for a $200 fee!

In either case, what are my options to dispute the bill/collection? Note I've moved out of the area and don't intend to return to that office again.

 

[adjusterjack]

Unfortunately, as a practical matter, you probably don't have any options.

If the account is already with a collection agency, I doubt that the doctor's office will care about it anymore.

I imagine that, at some point, you signed something acknowledging that you would be billed for missed appointments if you didn't notify the office by a certain deadline before the appointment. I know I sign that kind of thing in every doctor's office that I go to.

If you can't get any resolution with the doctor's office and you obviously aren't in a position to sue because you moved out of the area, you may have to resign yourself to just paying it and move on.