🚀 go-pugleaf

Based on a recommendation by a coworker, I went to Advanced Healthcare,
to get treated for
a pain in my neck, in April of 1998.  Now, Advanced Healthcare has
*become* a pain in my
neck!  :(

Also, to top it all, the services rendered by the chiropractor there,
did NOTHING to help
the pain in my neck - I *still* have it!

Here's how it happened:
Since they were recommended to me by a coworker, I called them and made
an appointment,
using a card that my coworker had picked up from their office.  When I
went there for my
initial appointment, I gave the person at the front desk my insurance
card and asked her
specifically whether they were an 'in network' provider.  I understand
how the system is
setup and wanted to make sure, since I hadn't done so prior to that.
She checked in their
system and told me that they *were* an in network provider.  Well, it
turns out that this
was a mistake; a mistake that started an on-going two year dispute
between me and Advanced
Healthcare, P.C.
Note:  They never disputed that their employee told me this.  Their
argument was that their
management and staff had changed by the time the issue was disputed and
that it didn't matter
that I was told this (which is the gist of my disagreement with them).

Of course, I took what she said in good faith - I didn't have any reason
to doubt her word.
Therefore, I did not check further into it and continued to go there for
treatment until July
of that year.  At that point, their management realized that they were
*not* a provider in my
insurance because their claims were returned to them (the charges fell
within the
deductible for out of network coverage).  They started sending me the
bills directly.

This is when I first realized the fact that they were an out of network
provider.

After that, I tried to find out what I could do about the dispute by
calling their office in
Sterling, VA.  I left them messages and had numerous (about 35!) calls
into them before I was
finally contacted by a manager from their office who told me that I owed
them essentially the
entire amount for the services rendered (I had paid them co-payments of
$5, each time I went
there).

The manager and I had an unpleasant exchange of words and then I didn't
hear from them
again.  I called my Insurance Company and their representatives told me
that they were still
receiving claims from this Provider.  So, I assumed that the issue was
still being 'resolved.'

The next I heard about this dispute was *today*, when my former landlady
kindly sent me a
'Warrant in debt' that was posted outside the front door of the
condominium where I lived
before.  Advanced Healthcare had apparently sent notices to my old
address and sent the
dispute to a collection agency, presumably when the notices bounced
back.  Now, I have a
court date in the Fairfax General District Court to defend myself.  Of
course, they've added
9% interest starting from May 8, 2000 (probably when they sent their
last notice) and say
that this interest will accrue until the amount is paid off!

I am not sure what recourse I have.  Could someone please advice me on
this?  Am I essentially
screwed?!  :)

Seriously, is there *anything* I can do here?

Thanks in advance.

Sanj

--
These opinions are mine alone.


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