How best to deal with a medical billing issue?

Go to the hospital in person. Bring copies of everything. Tell them what you wrote here.

Going in person means they will have a lot of trouble giving you the brush off. And make sure you get an assurance from them that they will call off collections as the matter is between the hospital and the carrier. You're just an innocent bystander.

Ok thanks - so I called up my insurance company to get any proof. I remember getting a note stating that the MRI was approved. I either had thrown the letter away or just have no idea where it is. They confirmed they had approved it but the hospital billing gave the wrong code and that the error was all on their side and if they just re-submit with the correct code all would be ok.

The insurance company again said they would do a three way call - put me on hold while they talked to billing. Billing wouldn't give them any other info other than it was in process which frustrated the insurance company.

So I asked if I needed it I could get another copy of the approval - they said yes.

I called billing myself - told them I got a pretty mean letter from them - gave them the account number, etc. I then said I did not appreciate the threat of further action when the first I have even heard there was a problem was 2 weeks ago where I immediately called my insurance company to resolve and it appears it is an error on their side. Not to mention unfortunately I have had many bills due to medical reasons for my children and I have paid everything up to date.

They let me know that they were in process of resolving and that the letter was just an automatic system response. They would take me off receiving any further letters.

What the h*ll type of service is that? Threatening people who actually pay their bills and response timely to any issues?

If it wasn't the top children's hospital (for medical reasons) I wouldn't deal with them again.