Stat Lab patients puzzled by bills from the closed Bloomington lab [Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind.]

Oct. 19--Many Stat Lab patients are still in the dark about their bills, even though the now-closed Bloomington laboratory reversed course and submitted claims to insurers after charging patients directly because of a billing dispute.

"I absolutely do not know what to think of this," said Lori Bucy, who received a bill several weeks ago from Stat Lab that requested hundreds of dollars for services provided in December of 2012. "I have worked myself to a frazzle on this. I have a whole file right here. It's ridiculous."

Bucy is one of hundreds of former Stat Lab patients in the Bloomington area on the receiving end of bills for Stat Lab services provided at the end of 2012. The bills contained inserts saying Stat Lab had submitted insurance claims that had not been paid and that the company would no longer deal with insurers.

The bills caught patients' eyes because they had Stat Lab'sBloomington address crossed out in pen and replaced with a Georgia address. They also arrived months after the laboratory closed in March.

Since the bills went out, Stat Lab decided to try again to get payments from insurers. Anthem BlueCross BlueShield's grievance and appeals department is involved in processing Stat Lab claims. And a recording at Stat Lab'sBloomington telephone number said the company resubmitted all of its claims.

"Stat Lab has resubmitted all claims for all insurance companies," said the recording, which was dated Oct. 3. "You do not need to leave a message unless you have filed your own claim or wish to pay your balance following an insurance payment. If you send a check or credit card information, this is being retained pending claim processing."

That message hasn't made it to all of Stat Lab's patients, though. Bucy has heard nothing from her insurer about her claim being resubmitted, she said. In fact, she submitted an insurance claim for Stat Lab services on her own recently.

That claim came after a lot of work on Bucy's part. She went through a back-and-forth with Stat Lab over the amount she owes on her bill, she said. She had to contact her doctor's office to confirm diagnosis codes. And she had to try to track down a federal identification number required for submitting a claim.

"That was not listed on the statement Stat Lab sent me," Bucy said. "I'm sure the diagnosis codes are fine. What I don't know is if the federal ID number is right."

Bucy was insured by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield when she visited Stat Lab. So she has been dealing with that insurer. Even some patients who were with Anthem, the area's major insurer, aren't sure what's happening with their bills, though.

"I don't think I've opened anything that says resubmitted," said David Hummons, who said he received a bill from Stat Lab for services that were provided in November of 2012. "I don't know what to do at this point in time. I'll just call Anthem and see what they say."

Hummons' Stat Lab bill is dated Sept. 2. However, he believes he only received it in the last week. Hummons isn't exactly sure when the bill arrived, as he only checks his mail about once a week.

It's not clear why Hummons' bill would have arrived after other Stat Lab bills. Dr. Gene Gebele, who is the laboratory's former owner and previous medical director, has said he stopped sending new bills to patients.

Some patients successfully stayed up-to-date on the billing dispute. Larry Picou has been in touch with Anthem.

"It's my understanding that Anthem has been working with Stat Lab," he said. "Last time I heard from Anthem, they said they were processing them and I would be getting my EOB."

Picou hasn't heard from Anthem in about a week, he said. He's yet to receive an explanation of benefits regarding Stat Lab.

"Right now I'm just waiting to see what Anthem's going to pay on it," he said. "I'm pretty satisfied right now with what's going on. I think it's taken care of."

The Office of the Indiana Attorney General is investigating consumer billing complaints against Stat Lab. Gebele sent an email Thursday clarifying earlier remarks he provided about the investigation. It said Stat Lab provided the attorney general's office with information it requested.

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