If you feel you were treated unethically by Dr. Fine or his staff, submit a complaint to the Attorney General of Colorado. An investigation will be opened when repetitive complaints are submitted. Andy Fine's actions need corrections. A grassroots movement by his victims is the only way to bring correction.
The site to submit a complaint can be found at the Colorado Attorney Generals site. It is in encouraged that victims submit a complaint to the Medical Board of Examiners also.
"The purpose of this letter is to formally express my grievances with Dr. Andy Fine and his staff. On August 17, 2011, I saw Dr. Fine for a well check-up. I did not have any aliments, and I was completely healthy. When I scheduled the appointment I ensured that his office accepts Cigna Insurance. I had never seen Dr. Fine before this visit. I put trust and confidence in the Doctor and his staff. I trusted that I would be treated ethically, however my trust was violated.
The first nurse told me that I would be getting a flu shot. I explained to her that I had never had one, and that I did not want to receive one. She expressed no disapproval of my decision.
When the Doctor came in we had a brief initial conversation about my medical history. He then began the physical exam. He explained that he would be giving me a flu shot. Again, I explained to him that I did not want one, and I explained to him as I did in the above scenario. He then used an analogy that if he had a known way to prevent cancer would I not want that either? I told him that I did not feel like the two situations were equivalent. His response was that he would allow me to slide this time.
When the Doctor was inspecting my ears he removed a small piece of wax from my ear. I had not said anything about the wax, or that it or anything else was worrisome to me. There was no conversation about him removing the wax.
The Doctor left the room, and I began dressing. No more than two minutes after the Doctor left another nurse came in with a shot in her hand. She said, “I just need to see an arm.” I asked her why, and she explained that the Doctor had told her to come give me a flu shot. Again, I explained to her, that I would not be getting a flu shot. I do not get frustrated with people when they ask me to repeat myself due to their lack of understanding, but the Doctor was not lacking understanding. He choose to disrespect my wishes. Dr. Fine’s audacity overwhelmed me. When I emerged from the room, the Doctor came over to me and shook my hand as though to make a mends for his grievances.
With my insurance, I receive one well check-up per year. I assumed that the Doctor’s office would bill Cigna accordingly. Much to my surprise, I received a bill in the mail approximately three weeks later stating that I owe $184.46.
On the bill the Doctor had charged me $74.00 for “removal impacted cerumen.” I had no idea that I had signed a release that allowed the Doctor full permission to do to me anything he felt necessary, and that I would be expected to pay for it.
I called the Doctor’s office, and I spoke to Ericka Gilbert. I explained the confusion, and my experience in the office as I have written above. She began getting agitated with me, and she would not give a reason for why the Doctor had billed the visit in this manner.
I called Cigna. A representative with the company explained that the Doctor had billed my visit as a “surgical visit, “ and that was why I was being charged accordingly. It was not billed as well check-up, which would have prevented part of this situation.
I then called back two verify what I was told was accurate. The customer service representative I spoke told me that it was partly Cigna’s error. She informed me that I would be getting a corrected bill in the mail in the next two weeks. I received the bill last week, and it is identical to the previous statement. I am very confused by this. I believe this to be part Cigna’s error, and Dr. Fine’s error in taking advantage of the insurance company and myself.
I then scheduled an appointment to speak directly with the Doctor to gain clarity for this miscommunication that Ms. Gilbert had failed to explain. I had intentions of asking the Doctor for an explanation. Ms. Gilbert called me back, and she informed me that the Doctor would not be seeing me for anything until the outstanding bill had been paid. She again gave me her lackluster explanation. I have an audio recording of this conversation, and I can provide it upon request. She would not address why the visit had been billed as a surgical visit. She explained that the office never sees new patients for a check-up, and that that I obviously had fussed to have two visits squeezed in to one. This is completely untrue. I had asked for the soonest available appointment and that is it. I asked her to redo the work that was done poorly, and to bill the visit for what it was. She refused, and walked out of the room. I informed her that I would be formerly filing complaints.
During this ordeal, I began researching the Doctor I have found similar occurrences with other people. I have found numerous accounts of unethical conduct by the Dr. Fine posted online.
Clearly, Dr. Fine is not operating his practice in an ethical manner. I put trust in him, and I was violated. I will always be suspicious of Doctors as result of this incident. Please, do not allow this continue, I am asking that my visit be billed according to what it was, and that the erroneous earwax removal charge me eliminated."
The site to submit a complaint can be found at the Colorado Attorney Generals site. It is in encouraged that victims submit a complaint to the Medical Board of Examiners also.
"The purpose of this letter is to formally express my grievances with Dr. Andy Fine and his staff. On August 17, 2011, I saw Dr. Fine for a well check-up. I did not have any aliments, and I was completely healthy. When I scheduled the appointment I ensured that his office accepts Cigna Insurance. I had never seen Dr. Fine before this visit. I put trust and confidence in the Doctor and his staff. I trusted that I would be treated ethically, however my trust was violated.
The first nurse told me that I would be getting a flu shot. I explained to her that I had never had one, and that I did not want to receive one. She expressed no disapproval of my decision.
When the Doctor came in we had a brief initial conversation about my medical history. He then began the physical exam. He explained that he would be giving me a flu shot. Again, I explained to him that I did not want one, and I explained to him as I did in the above scenario. He then used an analogy that if he had a known way to prevent cancer would I not want that either? I told him that I did not feel like the two situations were equivalent. His response was that he would allow me to slide this time.
When the Doctor was inspecting my ears he removed a small piece of wax from my ear. I had not said anything about the wax, or that it or anything else was worrisome to me. There was no conversation about him removing the wax.
The Doctor left the room, and I began dressing. No more than two minutes after the Doctor left another nurse came in with a shot in her hand. She said, “I just need to see an arm.” I asked her why, and she explained that the Doctor had told her to come give me a flu shot. Again, I explained to her, that I would not be getting a flu shot. I do not get frustrated with people when they ask me to repeat myself due to their lack of understanding, but the Doctor was not lacking understanding. He choose to disrespect my wishes. Dr. Fine’s audacity overwhelmed me. When I emerged from the room, the Doctor came over to me and shook my hand as though to make a mends for his grievances.
With my insurance, I receive one well check-up per year. I assumed that the Doctor’s office would bill Cigna accordingly. Much to my surprise, I received a bill in the mail approximately three weeks later stating that I owe $184.46.
On the bill the Doctor had charged me $74.00 for “removal impacted cerumen.” I had no idea that I had signed a release that allowed the Doctor full permission to do to me anything he felt necessary, and that I would be expected to pay for it.
I called the Doctor’s office, and I spoke to Ericka Gilbert. I explained the confusion, and my experience in the office as I have written above. She began getting agitated with me, and she would not give a reason for why the Doctor had billed the visit in this manner.
I called Cigna. A representative with the company explained that the Doctor had billed my visit as a “surgical visit, “ and that was why I was being charged accordingly. It was not billed as well check-up, which would have prevented part of this situation.
I then called back two verify what I was told was accurate. The customer service representative I spoke told me that it was partly Cigna’s error. She informed me that I would be getting a corrected bill in the mail in the next two weeks. I received the bill last week, and it is identical to the previous statement. I am very confused by this. I believe this to be part Cigna’s error, and Dr. Fine’s error in taking advantage of the insurance company and myself.
I then scheduled an appointment to speak directly with the Doctor to gain clarity for this miscommunication that Ms. Gilbert had failed to explain. I had intentions of asking the Doctor for an explanation. Ms. Gilbert called me back, and she informed me that the Doctor would not be seeing me for anything until the outstanding bill had been paid. She again gave me her lackluster explanation. I have an audio recording of this conversation, and I can provide it upon request. She would not address why the visit had been billed as a surgical visit. She explained that the office never sees new patients for a check-up, and that that I obviously had fussed to have two visits squeezed in to one. This is completely untrue. I had asked for the soonest available appointment and that is it. I asked her to redo the work that was done poorly, and to bill the visit for what it was. She refused, and walked out of the room. I informed her that I would be formerly filing complaints.
During this ordeal, I began researching the Doctor I have found similar occurrences with other people. I have found numerous accounts of unethical conduct by the Dr. Fine posted online.
Clearly, Dr. Fine is not operating his practice in an ethical manner. I put trust in him, and I was violated. I will always be suspicious of Doctors as result of this incident. Please, do not allow this continue, I am asking that my visit be billed according to what it was, and that the erroneous earwax removal charge me eliminated."
