13 Apr 09 Making Mistakes and Charging for Them
This is an email that I received from Debbie. She sounds like a wonderful mother who feels for her son who will unfortunately have to give blood again. Just as bad is that LabCorp is attempting to charge her for their own mistake.
Just frustrated that I received a call from my pediatrician who told me that Lab Corp ran the wrong blood test on my three year old.
Unfortunately, they had to stick him twice to get a good vein. All the trauma and crying was for nothing, as they didn’t follow the doctors orders for the test. Now, I have to phone them and argue about payment. We have a very high deductible since we are self employed, and I believe we should not have to pay for a test that was not needed. Wish me luck.
Tags: LabCorp Billing Stories, labcorp centers, LabCorp Complaints, LabCorp Employees, LabCorp Stories, Labcorp Wrongdoings
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LabCorp now requires you to provide them with a credit or debit card prior to services rendered. The lady next to me was told point blank to provide a card or no blood would be drawn…no exceptions. They do allow you to set a max limit prior to swiping the card.
I was given two, $30 receipts for my two lab slips under the understanding that they would withdraw up to $60 ($30 each) for any “co-pay”. A month later I get two bills, one for $10 and one for $19 listed as my patient responsibility. No listing of the of the $60 that my card was previously swiped for. I will call them today and report the results.
Lab Corp is, BY FAR, the WORST phlebotomy, or other blood, urine, etc., testing site that ANYONE should EVER choose. As a former phlebotomist that was the Outpatient Laboratory Coordinator for the Medical Center of Plano, I can tell you that patients would come in to MY lab ALL THE TIME, BEGGING to use our lab, rather than have to go to Lab Corp, as they had previously experienced ridiculous treatment, mistakes, re-testing on children that were scared to death the FIRST time that the Lab Corp “so-called” phlebotomists came at their child with a needle. The thing is, Lab Corp hires phlebotomists that have NOT sat for the ASCP exam, having NOT proven their true capability as a phlebotomist, lab secretary, data entry specialists in re: doctor-ordered bloodwork, etc. There are a few GREAT PHLEBOTOMISTS at a few Lab Corp stations, but not many. These testing sites are UNDERSTAFFED, becuse Lab Corp is CHEAP, as you can see from what they bill you ON TOP of your insurance (trust me, those bills have much more to do w/ LC than they do w/ your insurance co., no matter how crappy or wonderful your ins. co. may be). Just go to any hospital Outpatient Lab, or even Quest Diagnostics, as I worked there additionally, and Quest is meticulous about getting it right, the FIRST time. When any CHILD comes through that door needing an arm “stick,” you can bet that the phlebotomist chosen to perform the procedure will be GREAT at finding childrens’ veins (as children’s veins are absolutely MUCH TOUGHER to locate than any adult’s, only because the veins are smaller, deeper and there is alot more “fat,” or ADIPOSE tissue surrounding the veins of children 3 and under, amking it tough to feel for the vein). BUT – any phlebotomist that is well-trained can get a blood sample from a needle-stick on any child, no matter the age. AVOID LAB CORP.
Oh please melanie, how you even defend quest. the quest by my home if filthy and the people treat you like crap. My father was stuck six times and then sent him back to his doctor. Because he had medi medi the dr then sent us to labcorp and the girl got it on the first try. LabCorp has issues but what big corporation doesnt???
I am LabCorp employee (I’m not thrilled about this either) and you should not get a charge but you will have to contact the billing department about this matter. The worst part of my job is fixing the mistakes of others, whether it be the client or our own lab. This job is just horrible because if have to contact clients and get yelled at for something in which I had no part in. I always fix our lab’s mistakes and if this one came up… it is my job to fix a mistake like that the same day or day after. The doctor needs to contact their sales rep for a credit. Mistakes like this is inexcusable and outright ridiculus. Whoever mistake this is needs to be disciplined, whether it be the front desk or phlebotamist. I am so sorry you had to go through with this. As a LabCorp employee it makes me loose faith in this company.