Local resident questions hospital policy on requiring upfront payments
MEEKER | After six weeks of illness, Meeker resident Donna Wille was told she would need two hospital procedures to determine the cause of her symptoms. Her Grand Junction-based physician, who comes to Pioneers Medical Center once a month, fit Wille into the April 15 schedule.
“It was easier, especially when you aren’t feeling well,” Wille said about the option to have the procedures done locally.
Transcript of voicemail I received yesterday from billing department at Pioneers Medical: (procedure was today 4/15)
“Hi Dan my name is Danielle I a.m. calling from Pioneer Medical Center, I’m calling in regards to your procedure that you’re having with Dr. Fulton on the 14th tried to reach out to a couple of times um so I just wanted to go over financials for __ your procedure looks like they have you scheduled for a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy um I did want to inform you that with him being a self-pay patient we do um have a policy that states that you have to pay all of the um charges upfront with a 20% discount um so we are estimating that the total amount of charges is going to be about $6800.15 I’m sorry six $6815 and then with a 20% discount we are looking at $5452 that they would require you to pay at time of service otherwise they will not allow you to get the procedure done if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me 970-878-9316 again 970-878-9316 thank you…”