Dr A. J. J Smit

Incorrect codes in bill

On 16 August 2021 my wife was admitted to Gariep Hospital to remove kidney stones by dr De Jager. On 15 December 2021 and after the 8th attempt, the last kidney stones were removed by dr. De Jager. Different anaesthetists were utilised and one of them was dr Smit. We received all the bills and due to the enormous amounts claimed by the anaesthetists, we went to their offices to request lower tariffs as we are pensioners with only one income. In the meantime, Medihelp returned dr Smit’s invoice and indicated that incorrect codes were utilised and those amounts will not be paid. Medihelp also requested a letter from dr Smit to justify these codes. His office forward Medihelp’s request to us and requested that we should submit the letter. I indicated that we do not have the medical background and can therefor not explain to Medihelp why they utilised those codes and requested them to contact dr De Jager (urologist). Dr Smit’s office then indicated that I must pay these amounts, but I then asked them how I could pay something that was not acceptable to Medihelp. When visiting dr Smit’s office to request a lower tariff, they again indicated that I must pay the amount linked to these incorrect codes that was not paid by Medihelp. I then indicated I will not pay that amount until Medihelp approved those codes / services. They then indicated that they are not prepared to give a lower tariff. All the other anaesthetists cancelled the additional amounts claimed by them and accepted the payments done by Medihelp. Dr Smit’s office refused. I then arranged with dr Smit’s personnel to make monthly payments of R100 to settle the outstanding amount of R3005. They agreed and we sticked to our arrangement and settled the bill. A week after we have visited dr Smit’s office, one of the ladies contacted me and again requested that I must pay the amount linked to the incorrect codes and if I don’t pay, they going to hand me over.. I again indicated that I will only pay when they provide the approval by Medihelp that I must pay those amounts. Up to that point they did not submit any letters to Medihelp to justify their codes. As far as we know, no other anaesthetist utilised the same codes in their bill. We are not sure if they have already included those amounts in their final bill, but I settled their bill of R3005. I can just mention, the anaesthesia given by dr Smit made my wife very sick. She struggled to recover and was supposed the leave the hospital at 12:00, but at 18:00 I requested a wheelchair and the nurses assisted me to get my wife into the car. On my way home, I requested my daughter to come and assist at home. Three days later my wife could for the first time, move on her own. With the follow-up session to remove kidney stones, I requested dr De Jager not to utilise dr Smit again. Now in September 2025, we received a sms from Vericred / Jonker attorneys indicating that I still owe the amount of R3517,64 to Dr Smit. I did not contact them because I did not receive any letter from Medihelp or dr Smit’s office that the incorrect codes utilised by them, were approved by Medihelp. I forward email to dr Smit’s office and indicated that I’m going to refer this matter now to Hello Peter and Carte Blanche. If they continue claiming this amount, they will leave me with no other option than to refer the matter to the Medical Board. In June 2025, my wife undergoes a back operation and we requested Dr Swanepoel not to make use of dr Smit as the anaesthetist and she did not experience any problems to regain consciousness as was the case with the other anaesthetists utilised in the 7 other attempts to remove the kidney stones in 2021.