Now being charged with medical bills!

[kate]

bagpussinamerica Wrote:Ok, so I hit MMI, was declared 12% PPI and given a payment for the impairment. The letter stated that this is not a settlement of any wage loss or medical entitlements. Before I received the letter from w/c, I started having severe pain down the lower back and left leg. I contacted my surgeon, who told me if I had any severe pain that did not go away or was unbearble, to call him immediately. He set up a MRI, which was approved by w/c. I contacted the w/c to keep them informed of the situation, they said have the MRI and if the surgeon decides to recind the MMI, the he would do so and I would be back to square one.

Today I received a bill from my hospital stating that I owe them $1088.00 since my insurance carrier has denied or not made payment on the claim.

I was told that any further treament required as a direct result of this injury would automatically open w/c again. So what is going on? OR does this sort of thing happen all of the time? I am seeing my surgeon on Monday morning. I can ask about it then as well as contact w/c....but what happens if they say I have to pay the bill?

If WC authorized this they should be paying. Inform the hospital that this was pre-authorized. Contact the surgeon to get the date WC authorized it and let the hospital know. Many times, the hospitals just bill the first thing that comes up on their billing screen. I've fought with them many times to bill WC and I was the one (WC) paying the bill!

[bagpussinamerica]

Yes, I know it is confusing. I asked the surgeon about the disk thing this morning. He said that no matter what there is always something there. It just might not be enough to work with. So that was probably my fault, got it wrong the first time. With regards to the fusion, he said that they always go for a fusion on the third herniation. So I have one more to go. Having said that, we are both thinking of options so perhaps when I have another meet with him regards surgery I should ask about the fusion as a complete the whole thing issue. I guess it would sort it out once and for all. I am not sure that w/c would agree though, if the policy is to go for on the third herniation.

Sorry i confused everyone. I was pretty confused myself. When I look back at the notes, it says that the drs. nurse....not the surgeons nurse, told me that there was nothing left of it. So that could account for that error.