Expert: Ray A Miller - 7/13/2010

Question
I had multiple procedures at a dentist in CA. My first bill I received and paid in full. Over 1 year later I received a collection agency notice as they had put me in collections, for $200 more than the initial bill was. It took me weeks/hours on the phone until they removed it and admitted they did this in error.

Then, after multiple procedures, I received no bills. I kept calling for my balance and was told it was 0. They did not enter any of my insurance until over 1 year after the initial procedure and sent me a bill for over $1300. I paid it in full. They mailed it back to me and said I only owed $800. Then the following day called me and said I owed even less. Two days later I called to pay it in full, and they said I owed $1085. I disputed this as they could not give me any info on dates/procedures so they said they would go over it procedure by procedure. They called again and say I now owe $950 but the amount they say insurance has paid them is less than what my insurance has paid, so I do not believe it is an accurate figure.

My question is, do I have a right to receive an itemized bill? I have been requesting one over a month and they will not give me one, they said they would and sent me a 3 page PDF that is full of incorrect dates/medical jargon etc. If I do have a right to an itemized bill, under what law does this fall and how long do they have to produce it?

All I want to do is pay this bill in full and end my relationship with this awful company.

Answer
Yes you have a right to an itemized bill.  You can probably get one from your insurance company showing what the dentist billed and your portion.  It sounds like the dentist may have misbilled some of your procedures.  Write them a letter requesting the bill and inform them that if you do not get it you will report them to the BBB, Consumer Affairs and your states' Attorney General.  This should get the ball rolling.

I hope you find this helpful