877-657-7444

Left voice mail - "Advanced Patient Advocacy"

http://thepatientsadvocate.net/aboutus.htm

According to the voice mail, they supposedly offer "assistance" with unpaid medical bills, but one must wonder if they are really a bill collector for hospitals.

I got a call from this number to my CELL phone. Thought they could not call cell phones. Did not recognize he number and id not answer it. Probably won't now that I checked here.

Starts out as, "Do you have unpaid medical bills" Its bad enough to get spam in emails but this was also on my cell. I put my number on the do not call list. hmmm ya think its our government thats trying to scam us lol

Same caller called my cell phone and left same recorded call as received by "undecided" above. I'm on the cell phone "do not call list," too, and only give my number to those whom I want to have it. I didn't give this caller my number and I don't answer calls from numbers with no name or that I don't recognize so I didn't answer the call. If we all start billing these creeps for using our cell phone time, maybe they'd take a hint.

I think "Undecided" is right about working with the hospital.  I called the number back and told them to take me off their calling list.  When I told them my phone number, they already had my name and told me they would let the hospital know that I didn't want them calling me any more.

I'm waiting for COBRA to kick in, so some of my bills from May (that's less than 30 days!) haven't been paid yet and this place calls insinuating I can't pay my bills.  I haven't even received them yet.  Someone is selling this info.  I'm on the Do-Not-Call list.  I hope they have to pay the $16k.

http://www.apallc.com

I too recieved this call to my cell even before I got the hospital bill. I checked them out on the web and from what I can tell they are not truly patient advocates. They work with the hospitals to help them recoup as much as they possibly can from uninsured patients by screening patients to see if they are eligible for Medicare, Disability, etc. I suspect though that in the process they obtain info regarding your credit status and assets and if you are are not eligible for government assistance then they have what they need to help the hospital ultimately get their pound of flesh. They are NOT a non-profit charitable organization. It annoys me that they are able to obtain our cell numbers, obviously from the hospital.

I used to work for the Virginia Dept. of Social Services.  This company, Advanced Patient Advocacy are headhunters, they are contracted to work with hospitals in order to screen uninsured or low income patients/prior patients for government entitled programs like Medicaid.

They are not a good company to work with, they are ignorant of policy.  If you think you are eligible for Medicaid or simliar programs please go to your local Dept. of Social services.

Call same as described by others. Seems to be triggered by using free hospital medical services referred by local church-related clinic. company home page indicates they are hired by hospital to screen and evaluate patients for eligibility for free services. Might be a good thing, might not. Depends on what else they do with the information the hospital and you might give them. Only trying will tell. Be extremely careful what you sign or agree to over the phone.

This is ammazzing network .. have you seen Eagle eye ?
they are always behind you.

They have called every day this week... When I answer, they hang up... What's with this nonsense... Don't owe a single bill to anyone... LEAVE ME ALONE DUMMIES...

I went to the ER on Saturday, and got a call from Advanced Patient Advocacy today (Tuesday) -- ONE business day later. Wolves sure do move fast. I have great insurance and great credit, so there's no need for the hospital to be concerned that I'm not going to pay. Looks like they're selling our numbers  for anyone who goes to the hospital. Yet another reason to forgo the healthcare system in favor of Chinese medicine.

Amazing how everyone assumes the worst.  Yes Advanced Patient Advocacy is employed by the facility you have been to and yes we do provide assistance to your hospital but to you too.  If the facility receives payment it means we were able to assist you in applying for benifits you are eligible for.  We try to provide service to all indivduals and families and help reduce the stress over recent hospital visits stays and medical expenses.  If any of you had any problems with the company or employee report the problem.  We strive to maintain high quality services to all.  Please reasearch before posting negitive remarks or assuming we check credit or think we are a collection agency attempting to obtain money from you.  We try to assist you and help you eliminate costly medical bills that do affect your credit.  nI am proud to be apart of this company, they care for their employees and you.  I hope I have cleared up some of your concerns but call - maybe we can help you too.

You are completely full of crap and are an obvious BILL COLLECTOR.  Why should anyone trust someone who works for this company when you can't even spell "research" and "negative"?
This is how YOU spell them: "reasearch" and "negitive".  Leave people alone and STOP Scamming them!

They are a legitimate organization...I'm a Patient Care Advocate for a clinic in Richmond, VA and use them all the time.  They basically "screen" patients to see what kind of assistance they might qualify for (i.e.-Medicaid). Either way, if someone doesn't have insurance they should be given a Financial Assistance Application through the hospital they were seen at.  If it's not offered, ask for one & fill it out completely with the require documentation.  IF you fall within or below the poverty level, you will be granted charity through that hospital.  Most of the times, bills get written off (lucky them!) Hope this answers a few questions.

I've tried calling all times of the day and night, only to have the call go directly to voicemail.

Let me give you human parasites some advice.
Start making the fraudsters coming to your hospitals pay their bills and stop pestering those who truly qualify for your free services.
When I say fraudsters I mean those who have friends in the hospitals that allow their friends to get free services when these people own homes cars land etc and certainly do not qualify for any free services.

That is exactly what they are.
Seems like a shell debt collection agency owned by HCA the worlds largest owners of hospitals based in Nashville tn.

So called companies like these really anger me especially when they are nothing more than a debt collection agency that works for the hospital.
I can also tell you of examples of plain fraud that also anger me just as much.
I personally know a woman who had a surgery at hca's alleghany regional hospital in Virginia.
This woman and her husband own hundreds of acres of land and a very nice home.
This woman and her husband bought a 45,000 dollar white infinity SUV and paid cash yet she was allowed to have her debt wiped off at alleghany regional hospital because of who she knew there.
This woman had insurance and the part insurance did not pay was wiped off and this is fraud as this woman certainly did not qualify for free services at all.
She went out and talked about this with family and friends and boasted about it.
How is it legal for people like this to get free services and others who really qualify for them are not able to have them?

John,

Good evening.  I recently became aware of your post and wanted to respond.
Advanced Patient Advocacy is a company that provides enrollment services to individuals without insurance.  Our team of advocates work with each patient to identify what coverage options are available and then assist them with the necessary paperwork to secure coverage.  We service over 100 hospitals across the US in over 20 states.  While HCA is one of our clients, they only represent a portion of our business.  We are not a debt collection agency in any way, shape or form.  In fact, our goal is to secure coverage for an individual so they do not have to go through that process.

If I can answer any additional questions for you please feel free to reach out to me at rnapier@apallc.com