IS AUREON CLOSED FOR GOOD?

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Anonymous said:
I used the address in the middle of the statement where it said phone number, pa...., mail. i have a signature but who knows which address should have been used. :-(
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I didn't notice that address before. Thanks for pointing it out. I think I'm ok with the address I used. If I don't get a return receipt in another week, I'll send another certified letter to the address you pointed out.
 












Anonymous said:
On Aug. 9th-2 years to the day of my husband's prostate cancer surgery-he received a "bill" from Un.Fidelity for $5,693.00. I quess our credit rating was real good! Our story is basically the same as everyone else's except the size of our Aureon balace. Our insurer-BCBS of Fla.-paid around $460. of the original bill. How did Un. Fid come up with $5,693.?
We were told by our Dr. the cost was around $3,000. in Aug.2010. Won't be too happy to have to pay taxes on that ($5693.) if we get a 1099-c. We are sending a Cease and Desist letter to Un.Fid. tommorrow; don't know what the outcome of all this will be but it seems really unfair that we are all facing this as my husband and I feel the test was a huge waste of everyone's money as the test did nothing to cure the cancer. The results change nothing as he still has to go for psa tests. We plan to follow up with BCBS and his surgeon and will pass along any info we receive.
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Chances are some Aureon rep had both a PX+ and a PX test run on your husband. The PX+ is run on the some of the older biopsy cores and the PX test is run on some of the prostate tissue that was removed (if he had a prostectomy). It's really sad that you guys are being charged for this. You should try to contact Rob Shovlin. He use to be the CEO and may now work for another diagnostic lab company. He should have been aware of what was sold durring Aureon's fire sale!
 






Could someone who has sent a certified letter to Universal Fidelity and received a return postcard, please post which address they used. They have two on their "Confidential Message" and with my luck I would send it to the wrong one. Thanks!
Also, I liked "backyardponders" letter though I would ask them not to call. I, too, would like some proof of the bill and the contact info of the former and current creditors. If, after you receive info from them and they still continue to harrass you, could you then send a cease and desist letter?
 






Anonymous said:
Could someone who has sent a certified letter to Universal Fidelity and received a return postcard, please post which address they used. They have two on their "Confidential Message" and with my luck I would send it to the wrong one. Thanks!
Also, I liked "backyardponders" letter though I would ask them not to call. I, too, would like some proof of the bill and the contact info of the former and current creditors. If, after you receive info from them and they still continue to harrass you, could you then send a cease and desist letter?
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I used: Universal Fidelity, LP
P.O. Box 941911
Houston, Texas 77094

In addition, before sending my letter of dispute, I made another call to Universal Fidelity, LP
and included the date and persons name I spoke to, in confirming the billing address, as to where to send, the letter disputing their claim. I received my return receipt within 5 days. Hope this helps.
 






Thanks for the info. I know that mine was received because I sent it Express and was able to see the signature and date/time online that it was received at the middle address. Still waiting for the return card from Post Office. I did printscreen the info from the PO.
 






Well, I sent our registered letter to PO BOX 219785; Houston, TX, and did receive the green card back, so I'm hoping we are okay...I did receive a copy of our doctor's billing policy, showing that patients are not to be billed for what insurance would not cover...
 












Thanks all for the info about the addresses and also alerting me to the fact that Aureon may have run 2 separate tests on my husband ( we are the poor saps being billed $5,693.). As my husband's doctor told him they were running one test (post-op px) after surgery, we may have been scammed, but maybe it's a mistaske. In any case, we'll be calling the doctor and BCBS to find out. I am using a modified version of "backyardponders" letter as I agree that it might be best to find out all we can as opposed to a cease and desist. If Aureon was still in business, I would definately send a cease and desist, but I would like to know who and what I'm dealing with.
 






Anonymous said:
So glad to find this blog. I too recieved a bill for $2,675.60 for services performed 2 years ago for Prostate Cancer lab work. My Aetna account shows that these lab test had been paid in full.
I have filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office of Texas and have engaged my attorney to follow up. I have also contacted Robert Arnold at KPRC/Houston in hopes that this is news worthy. I would suggest everyone do the same rarnold@click2houston.com
Hopefully someone will take on these predators for those who do not have the means themselves. My greatest concern is that my/our medical information is now in the hands of a group intent on illegally using it for profit.
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Did you get any follow up with the Attorney General's office? I know that Fidelity Universal handled the Hollywood Video collections, and there was issue with them for how it was handled. Does your attorney have any advice? I wonder if the issue "Genetics testing requires informed consent" impacts our issue at all?
 






Anonymous said:
I used: Universal Fidelity, LP
P.O. Box 941911
Houston, Texas 77094

In addition, before sending my letter of dispute, I made another call to Universal Fidelity, LP
and included the date and persons name I spoke to, in confirming the billing address, as to where to send, the letter disputing their claim. I received my return receipt within 5 days. Hope this helps.
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This is the address I sent my letter to. We are in Texas and this was the payment address on the return payment coupon. I received my signed green card within about 5 days.
 












My husband received his letter today and just on a whim, I googled Universal Fidelity and found this blog. We are going to send our dispute letter tomorrow morning. Thanks everyone for the insight and information. We'll be checking back regularly and will post whatever we find out.
 






See post #93.
We received this email today from Universal Fidelity. So is Aureon still operational enough to communicate with us regarding this bill?


Better Business Bureau
1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200
Houston, TX 77027

Via: BBB Website

Re: Complaint xxxxxx

The account for above consumer was placed with Universal Fidelity LP by Aureon, Inc. for collections on past due bills for cancer lab testing done thru Aureon Labs.

In regards to the above complaint we have noted the account, closed and returned it to our client as a disputed account. The consumer will not receive any further correspondence from us regarding this account.

Thanking you in advance,

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Universal Fidelity, LP

Client Services
 












I received my letter from Universal Fidelity on August 8, $3200 for prostate biopsy done in September 2011. Contacted Blue Cross and my urologist's billing office, both were aware of the whole issue with Aureon going out of business/outstanding balances being turned over to Universal Fidelity. BC said they had not paid claim because Aureon never responded to their request for additional medical records since they were no longer in business, promised to look into it further but haven't heard back from them yet.

Fortunately, found this website last week, sent my Cease and Desist letter 8/17 (was delivered to Universal Fidelity yesterday, 8/21), haven't received return receipt yet. But also filed complained with BBB in Houston 8/21, essentially stating that they were going after me for charges I was never notified of, never agreed to pay, and never received a bill for, and that Aureon had documented policy they would not bill patients directly and would not balance-bill. Received immediate response that BBB had sent complaint to Universal. Shockingly, got a response via BBB this afternoon from Linda Carlisle at Universal Fidelity (same name I got from urologist office as contact person, had tried to call last week but no answer and no reply to message I left). Ms. Carlisle says that the account had been "closed and returned to our client as a disputed account." Also said I'd receive no further communication from Universal Fidelity regarding the account. So I'm hopefuly that this is now resolved.

Filing complaint with Houston BBB was very easy and apparently very effective, their website is www.bbbhou.org. Good luck to everyone in getting these things resolved.
 






My story is similar. My hubby got a bill 2 days ago. It took hours yesterday to resolve this. The test was run in 2010. BC/BS said the file was archived but they could see that $1534 of an original $3200 was paid to an independent lab that was nonparticipating in my insurance plan for prostate lab work. Universal says we owe $1626 which, if you subtract the $40 copay, this would be the balance.

His urologist said that Aureon was not to balance bill. They told me to call Universal and ask 2 questions. Did they recieve the payment from BC/BS and do they balance bill.

I called Universal. The girl would not talk to me without hubby's permission. She was nice but firm and I understood that. After permission was given, I asked about payment. She did not know if Aureon had ever received it. She said they did NOT balance bill. What I had to do was have BC/BS fax documentation that they paid this bill. When documentation is received they will close the account. She said I did not need to send a letter disputing this account as she had already put a stop on it. I am going to send a letter anyway just to cover all my bases.

I called BC/BS to have them send proof of payment. Because the file is archived it will take 2-3 days for it to be restored. Once it is restored they can send check number and proof. BC/BS said they will call me when this happens. Hopefully, that will be the end of the story.

This is just plain wrong. How many elderly people will receive this letter and be confused and upset and just pay it? I bet a lot, which is what Universal is hoping for.

I have to say that everyone I talked to was very polite and tried to be very helpful, the dr. office, BC/BS, and yes even the girl at Universal.
 


















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