Stephanie Rodrigues

While visiting his aunt in Virginia last year, Brysen had a seizure at Wal-Mart. Fortunately, an employee realized what was happening and a policeman there called an ambulance. On the ambulance, Brysen’s condition was monitored and his temperature was taken. A few days later, he had an allergic reaction to the seizure medication and had to return to the Stafford Hospital Center. A month after Brysen’s seizure, Ms. Rodrigues began receiving bills from Stafford Hospital and from Stafford County Fire and Rescue for the ambulance. Stephanie called the hospital and Amerigroup, Brysen’s managed care organization, attempting to get the hospital bill paid. Amerigroup told her they would pay the bills, but in September reversed their decision, saying they would not pay the bills because the hospital was not cooperating. Ten months later, Stafford Hospital turned the bills over to a collections agency.

Stephanie filed appeals about the illegal bills, but TennCare refused to process them, claiming she had not met the 30 day filing deadline. TJC wrote a letter to TennCare urging them to process the appeal, pointing out that Stephanie had appealed within 30 days of discovering that Amerigroup had failed to resolve the payment issues with either the Stafford Hospital or the Stafford County Fire and Rescue ambulance service. A year and a half after Stephanie received the first bill, following several more letters between TJC, TennCare, Stafford County Hospital, and Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department; Stephanie was finally assured that she would not have to pay the illegal bills.

Photo Credit: Meropi Falkenburg