Let's not name-call please.

Most hospitals have personnel that go around and try to work with patients who are financially unable to pay their bills.  They will often sign the person up for state aid in the form of medicaid or similar programs.  My brother who was basically destitute had to go to hospital and they signed him up for SSI as disabled (I believe) which got him on SS a little earlier than the 62 year age requirement.   They put him on medicaid.
 

So.  No need for intermediaries.

It is not paranoia you sIut.

I have the dammn letters they sent.
For the record, the Tennessee Dept Commerce and Insurance has followed up and is moving forward with the complaint.

You must work for the crooks.

Firstsource is a COLLECTION AGENCY IN DISGUISE

just wait until they start auto-deducting from your bank account.

MedAssist - whom I'd never heard of before - sent my daughter an "application" in the mail. Sure, it looked okay right up until "you authorize to sign in your name to obtain records from bank accounts and credit unions"...sounds a lot like the Nigerian guy who keeps emailing me.

Um, they have ZERO reasons to ask to be able to sign for authorization of your credit union and bank accounts. That has collection agency written ALLLL over it. Maybe YOU should do your research...shame on YOU.

Google this exactly and read for yourself ---->>>  med assist collection agency

Light collections ____

you sure are a piece of work.

A collection agency is a collection agency.

Any person or company who breaks the law is criminal.

Firstsource  fails to follow the law and post the required federal and state disclaimer on their letters to people.

-->>>- this is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be use for that purpose.

They send people paperwork claiming to help , for you to fill out all your personal details.
Which they then use against you. Having not listed the above required disclaimer on the letters violates the law.

THEY ARE A CRIMINAL COMPANY.

You must work for this collection agency.

I suggest anyone who doubts what I say about these collection agencies.

GOOGLE--- this exactly --->>>    med assist collection agency

Med Assist and First Source are the same ; A COLLECTION AGENCY

G O O G L E      it   !

It's all about resources. I have worked in Healthcare Revenue Cycle for over 25 years and there is definitely a need for an intermediary. Hospitals and healthcare organizations cannot justify the need to internalize this process because volumes, labor, and benefits. The intermediary only gets paid a fee if the healthcare organization receives payment.

do you work for them Susie?

*Sigh* Ok, well, considering that help from Medicare and Medicaid is as far away as your nearest Department of Human Services, and SSI is as close as your nearest Social Security office, again, why is an intermediary necessary ?

Most hospitals have some type of charity care assistance, and that is handled directly through the hospital for those who don't qualify for help from the state. So, again, no need for an agreement with this company.

Care to disagree with me or tell me I need to research ? Go for it, because I can name my sources.

Here's the thing, though. If you need help with your bills, Medicaid and Medicare are as close as your nearest Department of Human Services. Medicaid covers medical bills for 3 months in the past. So why would MedAssist be necessary as an intermediary?

Obviously you're not very good at research then. And anyone who calls people idiots, especially when what they are saying is true, needs to get a grip. Medassist is without a doubt legitimate and helps people and doesn't collect or fraud or scam anyone, they help people, fact.

They are not a collection agency and they do help people get medicaid and other help. If you really did your research you would know that. They've helped thousands of people and you shouldn't post such paranoid mistruths that will prevent other people from trusting and getting help they may need and deserve. Shame on you.

Thanks for educating some people.. Like u stated they should do  Research before they complain..... Good message

I received a letter from them ater a night in the hospital. Had several tests done and racked up a high bill. I had no insurance. The bill was about five grand. I filled out the pape they sent me an thy did assist me i pay some of the bill. All I owe now is 1281.00 I do belive they are out to help and they ay set up payment plans for the remaining balance. Thats fine with me.

P.S.

Firstsource wanted me {in their letters] to sign a statement saying I waived my HIPPA rights protecting my personal medical records privacy.

Quote
          " I AGREE THAT PROTECTED INFORMATION DISCLOSED TO FIRSTSOURCE MY BE
            SUBJECT TO RE-RELEASE AND IS NO LONGER PROTECTED BY LAW "

It will be a cold day before I sign such.

I was recently taken to the e.r. About a week alter I started receiving letters from Firstsource wanting my personal information, birthcertificate, and wanted me to sign a power of attorney saying they could sign my name in so called applying for help. I called the number for Firtsource that was listed on the letter.
At that point I did'nt not know what Firstsource was. During the call I asked how did they get paid as I did not want a bill for something I did'nt want or understand. When I asked the girl on the phone how they got paid-- she got all rude and nasty and told me if I was going to be difficult they would start collection action.
Needless to say, I hung up on her.
I spoke to the state commerce and insurance office and Firstsource is a collection agency.
They no not alert people to this fact on the letters they send out.
Federal and most states laws including my state requires a disclaimer on letters sent from a collection agency. Saying  ' This communication is from a debt collector and any information obtained will be used for that purpose" .
The required disclaimer is NOT on the letters they send out.
I'm in the process of going after them for this.
It is violations of the " Fair Debt Collection Practices Act"
Each letter is a separate violation and separate penalty that I will receive plus attorney's fee's.

I DID RESEARCH YOU IDIOT.

THEY ARE A COLLECTION AGECNY PRETENDING TO HELP YOU.

THEY COLLECT PEOPLES PERSONAL INFO AND USE IT AGAINST THEM.

Like I previously said.
Light collection's my hind end. They are a collection agency. They lie.

Do not trust them

The are a collection agency.

Do not trust these companies who claim to assist people in finding help with paying medical bills.
These companies are collection agencies in disguise.
They collect your personal information and later use it against you.
Never give any company such as this any of your personal information.

p.s.

MED ASSIST IS A COMPANY JUST LIKE FIRSTSOURCE.

THEIR DECEPTIVE AND AFTER YOUR INFORMATION TO USE AGAINST YOU.
THEY CLAIM THEY WILL ASSIST YOU IN APPLYING FOR GOVT. AID SUCH AS S.S.I.
WELL, DOES ANYONE HERE BELIEVE THE HOSPITAL WILL WAIT 5 TO 7 YEARS FOR THE
APPEALS PROCESS TO RUN THRU UNTIL YOU GET APPROVED FOR S.S.I.
IN ORDER TO PAY THE BILL.
I READ ON ONE SITE WHERE A COMPANY EMPLOYEE CAME INTO A MANS ROOM AT THE HOSPITAL. THE MAN WAS MEDICATED AND HALF A SLEEP. THEY DEMANDED HIS BIRTH
CERTIFICATE. THE MANS SISTER WAS THERE VISITING HIM. THEY DEMANDED THAT HIS SISTER
SIGN A PAPER AGREEING TO PAY THE HOSPITAL BILL IF HER BROTHER COULD'NT.
ALSO, THE FORMS THEY SEND OUT IN THE MAIL WANT YOU TO SIGN A STATEMENT THAT
YOU WAIVE YOUR  H.I.P.P.A. MEDICAL PRIVACY RIGHTS. SAYING YOUR PERSONAL MEDICAL RECORDS WILL NO LONGER BE PROTECTED BY LAW. SAYING THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS. RE-RELEASE THEM TO ANYONE OR ANYWAY
THEY WANT.


BEWARE

THE ARE A COLLECTION AGENCY IN DISGUISE.
THEY PRETEND TO HELP YOU SIGN UP FOR FREE ASSISTANCE.
THEY COLLECT INFORMATION FROM UNSUSPECTING TRUSTING PEOPLE THEN
USE THE INFORMATION AGAINST YOU.
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPORTING THEM TO MY STATE [ TENNESSEE ] COMMERCE AND INSURANCE BOARD FOR FRAUD. I HAVE DID SOME RESEARCH ON FIRSTSOURCE AND IT'S A COLLECTION AGENCY FOR SURE. THEY ASSUME SINCE YOUR A CASH PATIENT YOUR GOING TO NO PAY YOUR BILL.

THE MAN AT THE STATE OF TENNESSEE COMMERCE AND INSURANCE TOLD ME FIRSTSOURCE IS BREAKING BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL LAW.
SINCE THEIR A COLLECTION AGENCY THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PUT A DISCLAIMER ON EACH AND EVERY LETTER THEY SEND SOMEONE.
NO SUCH DISCLAIMER IS ON ANY OF THE LETTERS THAT CAME TO ME FROM FIRSTSOURCE.

---->>>  BEWARE  <-----

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for any unpleasant interactions some posters may have experienced. Firstsource Solutions USA, LLC, formerly known as MedAssist, Incorporated (?Firstsource?), was founded on a mission to help patients while treating them with compassion, dignity and respect.

For more than 20 years, Firstsource has helped uninsured and underinsured patients through the often difficult and confusing process of applying for assistance. This is a free service to patients and/or their families as a courtesy of our hospital clients. Through our MedAssist® eligibility services program, we screen patients at the hospital and over the telephone to determine if they may qualify for medical coverage and possible cash assistance through federal, state and local programs.

Firstsource has a proven track record, having helped thousands of patients and their families.  

Firstsource?s culture of ethical conduct, as well as our respect for the patient?s right of privacy, is part of our philosophy and training for all staff. Firstsource holds all employees to the highest of these standards and monitors employees to ensure their compliance with all federal, state and local laws. Due to some of these laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA, we are obligated to safeguard your private information and therefore, we may not leave a voice message detailing actual hospital and medical information.  

Lastly, Firstsource is keenly aware of how important your private information is to you so you can feel confident and be assured that Firstsource does not sell your information to any third-parties.  

If you feel you have been contacted by mistake, experienced an unpleasant call or have any other compliance concern, please feel free to contact me directly at laura.kinder@na.firstsource.com or the address below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,
Laura W. Kinder, Compliance Officer
Firstsource Solutions USA, LLC
1661 Lyndon Farm Court
Louisville, Kentucky 40223

Yea, a totally legit company....NOT!!
I worked at the DCF Call Center a few years ago and this company is full of crooks! We were responding to their inquiries and tracked their hospital bills. My co-workers and supervisor did some research on some of their applications, and they were entirely fraudulent!

They were not including people (fathers and mothers) in their applications so that their income wouldn't be counted, and therefore making the client eligible for Medicaid. When we could call the clients, they would have no idea what we were talking about...and weren't even aware that applications had been filed!

Be careful with this company.

We do screenings for social service programs and disability then help the patient from application through apporval at no cost to the patient.  I have NEVER called a patient at work and will not do so.

I worked for MedAssist as a manager for a long time, and while their main focus is screening for potential eligibility, they can be aggressive, especially if the hospital bill is quite high. They basically contract with local hospitals to screen non insurance patients for potential medicaid, medicare, and various programs. What the previous poster did not say is, if you are eligible, expect them to call at LEAST every week until you have been approved with program they are trying to get you on. They will also be calling your work place and they will be calling the program in which you have applied for to check on your status.

I worked for MedAssist for 3 years and I loved my job!!!!!   All they do is try to help you pay for medical expenses.  They help the patient and the hospital.  Most deal in state funded programs such as Medicaid, Medicare supplement Medicaid, & Social Security Disability.  Also, MedAssist provides medical loans and some deal with private insurance companies.  Sometimes when a person enters the hospital it is in an emergency situation and all of the insurance information is not entered into the system correctly or the hospital misses information for billing processes.  MedAssist simply screens patients for eligibility for state and federally funded programs, or if the patient has insurance they will re-direct the information to the billing department to take the information and bill the insurance company.  Sometimes the hospital billing department will catch their mistakes and MedAssist may have called you before the mistake was caught!!!  The job does keep the representative busy all day (large case load) as you can image the number of patients seen at the hospital everyday (Many with no insurance and no way to pay).   MedAssist helps patients find funding to pay the medical expenses.  

They are helpers not criminals!!!---Do Research before you complain!!!!!

I Just got a call from the 1-800-736-2107 ext 350 and it sounds just like the same things that you all have said. So have you got anymore info on it?