Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health is addressing patient concerns about billing after a man posted his frustrations on social media, according to ABC-affiliated TV station WLOS.
John Payne told the station a Mission Health customer service representative incorrectly told him he had to pay his outstanding debt or face collections.
Mr. Payne said the customer service representative indicated Mission Health did not offer zero-interest payment plans anymore, and that he basically had the option to pay his debt or it would be sent to a collection agency in three months. He said the bill was for an emergency room visit in 2018, but he had never received an invoice for it.
After he posted about his bill on Facebook, another Mission Health representative called him to apologize and "make it clear they will set up payment plans," Mr. Payne told the station.
A Mission Health spokesperson confirmed to WLOS that the health system continues to offer payment plans, even after it was purchased by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare in February.
"When we converted to a new billing system in August, we began creating new payment plans. While this may have caused confusion, there has been no change in our approach of offering payment plans. We have also been ... offering settlements on outstanding patient accounts ... by proactively reaching out to patients," the spokesperson said.
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