Hospital buraucracy

Had one of those frustrating moments. We received a check in the mail from the local doctor's office. I may have over paid a bill. Probably crossed in the mail so I paid it twice, but they couldn't tell me over the phone when I called to inquire about receiving the check. Since we pay our medical bills out of an HSA, health savings account, it would be fraudulent to cash this check, like laundering money through an IRA before turning 65. I took the check back to the billing department to return it today . I figured they could credit the account towards our next visit.

I had called the Doctor's office and been told to bring the check in or mail it with a cover letter. I brought the check in to the doctor's office, but was told they couldn't accept it, I needed to take it to the billing department at the hospital around the corner.

I find the billing department. There is a waiting line. When my turn comes up I hand over the check. The clerk says she cant accept it as it hasn't been endorsed. It is their check. After discussing it with me she hands the check back. I take my pen and scratch a messy T on the signature line for Tom as the check is made out to him as the primary, even though I do all the bills and accounting in the house. I hand the check back to the clerk who proceeds to process the check as I wanted, crediting our billing account.

When I asked exactly why the check was sent, which date I had over paid, the clerk pulled the "I can't disclose that information". I told her the Hippa's were all signed and on account. She said only the local doctor's office keeps those records. I had to ask the doctor.

Problem with that answer is there are four of us. We have seen multiple doctors over the course of the year. I have no idea which doctor we double paid, who to ask. If they had put a reference on the check receipt I could figure it out, but they weren't even that helpful. I am not even sure they could tell me why they sent us the money. Just as well I returned it before they sent us a letter saying we owed them the money as the check was sent in error. Who knows. I just know with an HSA I could not cash that check. I was surprised at how difficult it was to return the check. You would think they would want to keep the money.