Linda Brandwin, R.N. Linda Brandwin is a registered nurse and a medical billing and claims specialist. For the past 10 years she has worked directly with insurance companies to give advice and guidance to the health care consumer. Readers may send email or write Linda Brandwin at 5500 Single Oak Hill Ct., Woodbridge, VA 22192.

Collection letter may be mistake
Oct. 24, 2003

Q: I received a medical bill from my local hospital indicating the amount of money that I owe after my insurance paid. My balance was $200 and I have been paying $50 per month. Currently I just owe another $50. However, I got a letter stating that if I don't pay the full balance of $100, my account will be turned over to the collection agency. I have not called them yet, but I have been paying on my account. Is there anything else I should do to prevent my account being turned over for collection?

A: A phone call to the hospital billing department should take care of your situation. I can not be sure, but it wouldn't surprise me if the hospital's computer automatically generated that collection letter to all accounts that are of a certain age. Your account may not have been specifically targeted. This setup is not always such a good idea. People, like you, who are making good faith payments, receive these letters unnecessarily. I can not believe there is any healthcare provider who would want to send a patient to collection who is making monthly payments. It would make absolutely no sense.

Call the hospital and ask them to review your account and look at the payments they have received from you. If the biller tells you to ignore that letter, make sure that you are not going to be sent to the collection agency. Ask her what procedure she follows to assure that your account is not turned over. Document your phone call with the date, time, and who you spoke to.

If this letter was intentional, just make your last payment. However, I would not stop there. I would notify public relations and the President of the hospital as to the situation. Obviously, this may be a case where they may want to review their hospital policy.