UPMC Hospital charging outrageously Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

RE: Account#032898416-8314

My son had a minor skin cut on his finger. The doctor hardly spent 10 minutes to examine the wound, took no xrays, did not put even a single stitch, declared that there was absolutely nothing serious, even ruled out any need for a revisit after putting a simple glued bandage.

The hospital submitted a bill of $1533 to my insurance company United Healthcare who them paid $803.31 which already looks a gross overpayment for such a minor treatment and justifiably rejected their claim for the rest of $729.96. UPMC passed on that balance to my son.

I tried to talk to their representative Mr. Brian on 4/1/09 but he seems to have no empathy for this extraordinary cost imposed on my child. All he was interested in was ensure how to extract the balance of $729.96 else face the severe consequences just because he has already secured a signature of my innocent child on paper that essentially amounts to forcing him to sign a blank check.

I submitted a written complaint via their "Contact us" web page on 4/2/09 but no one has responded.

Vinod
Princeton Junction, New Jersey
U.S.A.