Sep
For those few people that think the City of Portsmouth management looks out for their employee’s and that the City is a big family that takes care of its own I have a word for you, bunk.
Below is a passage from the City of Portsmouth’s Professional Occupational Medical Management Services contract last approved on April 13, 2006. I have a question for all, why would an employee ever have to pay for occupational health services? I can’t think of any, you’re going there because the City has sent you there for a medical exam, fit-for-duty test etc or you were injuried on the job and covered under the “Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act” where you select a city approved doctor from the Workers Comp Panel.
Are you one of the City of Portsmouth Employee’s that ended up receiving an overdue medical bill for some type of Occupational Health Services while an employee of the City of Portsmouth? I received numerous late/non-payment notices from just one on the job injury incident. I also ended up with a negative credit entry because the City of Portsmouth or Bon Secours (don’t know which) didn’t take care of the bill in a timely matter.
I can’t think of any instance why the City should be giving Bon Secours/Maryview Occumed permission to bill a City of Portsmouth employee. What is even more appauling is that they state that they will assist Bon Secours in billing the employee by providing “adequate documentation and other information necessary for prompt and accurate billing for denied services being billed to the City’s employees”. If you read the whole contract their is nothing included that provides any information about criteria to deny a claim. It appears they can deny it for any reason they want and don’t have to justify it to anyone.
I spoke with Susan A. MacLeod, executive vice president and administor for Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center in her office at the beginning of August. She told me that Maryview/Bon Secours tries to lookout for the Police and Firefighters. Sorry I just don’t see it given this contract and the number of people that have negative credit entries on their credit history because of either billing issues by Bon Secours or the City of Portsmouth not paying their bills in a timely manner.
I am interested in hearing from anyone that is a past or present employee of the City of Portsmouth who received any late payment notices involving Occupational Health services that was rendered by Bon Secours under the City of Portsmouth contract. If you are one of the people that have negative credit or received a late payment notice for a City of Portsmouth Occupational Health incident please click this link or send an email to mvh<at>portsmouthvapolice.com with the information and a way to contact you, email would be best.
Lets see if we can get the City of Portsmouth and Bon Secours to address this unacceptable level of service the employees of the City of Portsmouth have received. I am going to ask the Portsmouth City Council why its employees are treated like this.
1.4 Compensation and Billing
1.4.1 Amount of Payment. In consideration of the Service rendered under this Agreement, the city will pay Contractor a monthly fee pursuant to the fee schedule attached hereto as Exhibit “A,” or such other fee agreed upon by both parties for additional services requested by the City. The City agrees to provide payment to the Contractor within forty-five (45) days of receipt of a properly submitted invoice and according to the terms delineated in Exhibit “A,” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
1.4.2 Billing. In the event the City has denied payment for a services rendered hereunder by Contractor, Contractor shall have the sole right to bill the City’s employees or responsible third-party payors for any billable Services rendered by Contractor to such employees. All fees collected for such services will be the sole property of the Contractor. The City will cooperate with and assist Contractor in providing adequate documentation and other information necessary for prompt and accurate billing for denied services being billed to the City’s employees or responsible third-party payors.
Click link to the right if you want to read the entire Bon Secours P05/04 Occumed Contract April 13, 2006 Professional Occupational Medical Management Services contract.
