Vandy Billing Dept.

Hey Everyone!! I guess I posted that I was doing my six month diet through Vandy at the Center for Human Nutritian ( I know I didn't spell that right!!! ) anyway I'm doing a six visits with a R.D. and then a sum up visit with Dr. Hadi... they told me that insurance will not cover any of this, and for all the visits the total cost is 400. Which isn't that bad because they are letting me pay 100 at my first four visits. I decided to call Cigna anyway to see if they cover any of this, and they said yes, they cover the visits only if you have diabites or for morbid obesity. Vandy would not listen, and made me pay up front anyway, and said that I would have to file my own claims, to get my money back from them. So I filled the paperwork for my first visit, and then I got a check yesterday from Cigna for my reinbusement. Which since it's Christmas I was even happier than I normally would to get the 91 bucks!!! Anyway I call Vandy and explain the situation, and try to get a similar form to send in for the payment I made on my second visit. But I couldn't get any where!!! The women from the billing dept. was really rude, and told me those where non-billable charges, and if claims had never been spent to Cigna, they can't send my one, because of something to do with the HIPPA laws. We just kept going around in circles, it's like she want's me to pay out of pocket!! I already pay 200 a month for insurance, and since this is covered for me why can't they just bill it. Or at the least send me the form!!! Can't they call and check benefits like the dentist does, I can't be the only one with coverage for this, but that's how they make it seem!!! I'm just frustrated with Vandy billing dept. I guess I will have to call again in the morning. Thanks for letting me vent!!! Take Care, Jacqueline

Jacqueline, You should be able to file your claim directly on the CIGNA website. Or at least download the necessary claim forms which once submitted with your receipt from the hospital, should be all you need for your reimbursement.

If Vandy is an in-network provider with Cigna, then they are obligated under the terms of their contract with Cigna to file the claim for you. It doesn't matter if they feel it will be denied or not. They are required to accept the assignement of benefits and file the claim on your behalf. That is why they sign contracxts with insurance companies. If you do not get anywhere with that billing clerk, then ask to speak to the office manager and explain this to her or him as well. If that gets you nowhere, threaten to take them to the insurance commission. That will normally get them to help you. And there is nothing HIPAA related keeping them from filing your claims. They are using that since most people are not educated on HIPAA laws.