The ENT and Sinus Center ABQ billing methods are untimely, unprofessional and unethical. But not…read moreonly that; Dr. Bart is prejudiced (he told me my English was pretty good for a Mexican) and his ethics and those of his clinic's personnel are highly questionable. The receptionist is rude and condescending, and the people you need to talk to at the ENT and Sinus Ctr. are never available when you call them, if you're lucky enough to have someone taking your call when you call. See Dr. Bart giving himself 5 stars in Google reviews! That tells you everything you need to know about him.
On June 11, 2016 I was seen by Dr. Bart at the ENT and Sinus Center ABQ. Sometime between December 16 and December 20, 2019, over 6 months later, I received a bill from them saying I owed them $171.42 with a threat of being sent to a collection agency if I didn't pay right away. Since I didn't receive any form of statement or bill from the ENT and Sinus Ctr., I had assumed that my insurance had paid for everything that had taken place during that visit on June 11, I was totally unaware of the balance, and amazed by how they threat their patients with being sent to collection knowing that not receiving payment sooner is their fault because they took 6 months to send their first bill (the ENT and Sinus Ctr. charges a $35 copay for each visit, regardless). I learned from my explanation of benefits sent by my insurance company that the ENT and Sinus Ctr. had filed a claim to my insurance company for $659.00, for a supposed nasal endoscopy procedure which NEVER took place during my visit on June 11. The insurance company only allowed $413.46, which they paid to the ENT and Sinus Ctr., and I am supposedly responsible for the balance, $171.42. When I called the ENT and Sinus Ctr. to straighten this up (when I was finally able to talk to the person who could "help" me, after about 5 or 6 calls in which I left voicemails because nobody took my call), I was yelled at and told that the nasal endoscopy had indeed taken place, that I didn't know what I was talking about, and that I should pay immediately or my account would be sent to collections.
The nasal endoscopy procedure the ENT and Sinus Ctr. claims took place is defined as "CPT #31231, nasal endoscopy, is billed under the 'surgical unmbrella', because the procedure is invasive. An endoscope with it's rigid fiberoptic telescope allows the physician both increased visualization and magnification of internal anatomy. Topical vasoconstrictive agents are applied to the nasal mucosa and nerve blocks with local anesthesia. The endoscope is placed into the nose for a thorough inspection of internal nasal structures to be accomplished" - Dr. Bart NEVER did anything to put me under local anesthesia, and much less inserted a rigid fiberoptic telescope into my nose. This never took place during my visit of June 11. This unethical doctor knows exactly what he is doing in issuing a bill to patients once 6 months have passed since the procedure, in order to make sure that patients cannot fight any fraudulent charges because we only have up to 6 months to submit appeals or grievances, according to my insurance company's rules. This doctor can claim that he sent me bills before December 15 2018, but that is simply not true. This doctor is stealing money from my insurance and from me by claiming that he performed a procedure that never took place. Because Because this doctor did not issue a bill until December 15, 2018, exactly 6 months and 4 days after the nasal endoscopy was supposed to have taken place
I regret greatly having come to this doctor to help me see what was wrong with my sinuses. Stay away from him and from the ENT and Sinus Center.