American Medical Association [AMA]

On 10/25/18 I went to an appointment to have my prescriptions renewed and to get an order for my mammogram. I have masses that have to be checked. They refused to write the order, saying that I had to make another appointment to pay for. Went back on 11/29/18 to get the mammogram order, renew a pravastatin script that they were supposed to have written on the 10/25/18 appointment, and blood draw for cholesterol levels(on med). They said I owed $178.00 but couldn't tell me what for. Then said it was a "build up" of co-pays that I owed but they never billed me for it. That I had to pay it before being see. I told them that it was not true because I hadn't had insurance until 10/20/18 and that I had been self paying prior to that. They always demand full payment of office visit before you can be seen and if you have tests or other charges, you have to pay them before you leave. I told them I wouldn't pay the $178.00 until they could prove that I owed it and walked out. I went to a new doctor on 12/31/18 and asked him to get my records, informing him that doctor jerry smith was going to find a reason not to send them. New doctor requested the records on 12/31/18 and 1/22/19. They keep telling him it will be 2 weeks after having 23 days, at that point to send them. Then on the morning after the 2nd request, family first called me saying that I had to come in for another appointment before they would release them. That it was their policy. I have never told about any such policy. I told her I was never coming there again and informed my new doctor of what they said. Then on 1/23/19 @ 3:23 pm, doctor jerry smith called me telling me that I owed them a bill and he would not release my records until I come down there right now and pay it. I told him that I know that I owe for appointment due to insurance not paying but that it was illegal for him to hold my records hostage like that according to HIPPA laws. That I have always payed whatever I owed them because they always demanded payment on the spot. He repeated, you come pay the bill and we will go from there. I told him that I would take legal action on this matter if they don't release them. He said "go ahead, but we won't release them till the bill is paid. My husband was on the phone with me and heard everything he was threatening. When doctor smith heard my husband on the other end of the line jerry smith immediately hung up. I have had many issues with these people over the years and should have left some time ago. Sum of these issues include but not limited to: refusing to give me results of my tests, charging varying amounts whenever they want(no explanations), refusing to give me mammogram orders while I'm at an appointment making me come back for another appointment to get the order, refusing to write prescription refills for more than a few months making me have to go 3-4 times a year to get med refills for the meds I have been on for years, doctor smith expressing anger at me for wanting referrals to specialists and for not staying on a couple of meds he prescribed due to bad side effects, insisting on pap smear even though my records show that I had a complete hysterectomy over 10 years ago( they couldn't even tell I had no uterus during the pelvic exam), not putting copies of the tests they did in my file and then wanting me to take them again(at my cost of course), not giving my insurance info to the labs they use causing me to have past due bills going against my credit record, etc. The list is long. But this last act of extortion is just too much. I think they are trying to punish me for finding another doctor and holding my records hostage for more money. It's very important that my new doctor has these due to ongoing conditions for which he will need to make comparisons to. I am pleading to you to help me get my records and protect me from the illegal actions of dr. Smith and family first medicine. I have never in my life had a doctor behave this way. Please, please help! my acct # for family first is [protected]. I just want all of my records transferred to new dr.