Posting for a friend - storing/keeping embryos?

I am posting for a friend who is going through a difficult time I would appreciate any advice you ladies can give!

From the email she sent me: "I want to know if a doctor can legally keep your embryos from you if you owe them money. I sent 2 certified letters over 2 months ago to my old doctor, who we haven't been to in over a year, telling him (and his billing department) that they had verbally informed us that we'd get a large discount if we ended up having to pay out of pocket for part of our cycle--- but to this day are still charging us the full amount that they tried to bill insurance! I refuse to pay them, but told them I'd settle with them for a smaller amount, and that in the meantime I'd like my embryos so we can move forward, but I have gotten no reply."

Short of contacting an attorney (which I am guessing is a pretty major step), what can she do? Thanks everyone.

Re: Posting for a friend - storing/keeping embryos?

i think thats her only option, other than physically going to the office and speaking with them to her

Re: Posting for a friend - storing/keeping embryos?

It would be insurance fraud for him to charge her less than the insurance company. The discounted rate the insurance company gets is based on the full fee non-insured patients would pay. Insurance companies get the discounted rate because they have a contract with the doctor that allows them to send them patients at a lower fee. Now maybe he made that promise initially, but if he was caught doing this he could get in big trouble as it is insurance fraud.

Re: Posting for a friend - storing/keeping embryos?

I don't know about keeping them from you, but I owe my IVF place over 500 bucks for storage fees and I was told that they cannot touch them because it is against the law, whether i've paid or not. I'm sure, though, that when I go back to use them I will have to be all paid up.

Re: Posting for a friend - storing/keeping embryos?

From what my friend has told me, she had insurance and it maxed out during her cycle, which is why they agreed to discount it (in the event that happened) before the cycle even began. It was the only way she agreed to cycle. All of her sonos/bloodwork were covered as were some other things, but the ER wasn't, along with some other things, because of how the insurance claims hit. Larger ones took longer to clear because they had to go through a team of people before approval/denial.

She is not looking to get money from them, she just wants her embryos so they can move forward. The other issue is that it was not the doctor who offered her the "discount," but his billing coordinator, but still no one is responding to any of her letters or requests.

Re: Posting for a friend - storing/keeping embryos?

Most REs will give you a discounted price for ivf if you maxed out or don't have insurance. I would keep calling and try to get in touch with someone in charge of billing and demand to get the price that was promised. Most places won't let you continue with any procedures unless you are paid up. But they cannot destroy any embryos without your permission even if you have not paid them. That is a legal issue definitely.