At a recent visit to Mercy for a radiologic procedure, my wife was presented with an estimate of out-of-pocket expenses and told it needed to be paid prior to services being provided.
I was aghast, as I have been to Mercy many times over the last 15 years and have never been asked to pay in advance.
I called Mercy and was told this is a new policy initiated by Centura Health. I then called Centura to voice my displeasure with the policy and was told they would grant a one-time waiver but in the future services will need to be paid for in advance.
Is there anything less Christian or merciful than extorting money from patients prior to services?
I have had many go-rounds with Centura regarding their overzealous pursuit of payment, including being called at my home to be informed that I had a balance due and asked how I wished to pay it, before I had even received the bill!
We have excellent insurance, and a long history of paying every bill, yet are being harassed for payment prior to services being rendered and/or receiving a bill.
Perhaps this, and the lack of staffing mentioned in the Herald, are a result of the Centura CEO’s expressed intent to double revenue by 2025?
It is obvious that Centura is more interested in profits than providing care. Dump Centura before any more merciless initiatives are forced on Mercy. Seek treatment elsewhere!
Ken Van Zee
Durango
