LANCET OVERCHARGES PATIENTS THEN THREATEN TO BLACKLIST THEM !!!

My husband had a stroke and was treated at Pinehaven Hospital. Dr Moola requested blood tests to be done. This was done on 2018-06-24 by Lancet Laboratories and their invoice of R2,689.20 was sent to my medical Aid Fund (GEMS). GEMS then sent me a statement which reflected payment for the full invoice except R52.90 (which was rejected).

Lancet billing code : 4094 Amount billed : 52.90 GEMS' remark : 3548 Ancillary test are included in Blood Gas charge Kindly be informed that the below mention claim was clinically rejected as tariff 4094 may not be charged at all with tariff 4076.

I queried it with GEMS and forwarded GEMS' reply to Lancet.

In return, this is an extract of the reply I received from Lancet : "Kindly be advised that the tariff code 4094 is included in the tariff code 4076 and therefore is charged correctly."

This is EXACTLY what GEMS is saying --- it may NOT be included in the tariff code 4076. What part of "TARIFF 4094 MAY NOT BE CHARGED AT ALL WITH TARIFF 4076" is unclear to Lancet ?

I have sent NUMEROUS e-mails to Lancet trying my UTMOST to make it clear to them that EITHER they must use the CORRECT code OR another VALID code and re-submit their claim.

However, I now received this message :

Dear MRS S O MAGERSTEIN ,Lancet (DRS Mauff A C & Partners) expects IMMEDIATE Payment of R52.90 on your overdue account to avoid handover to ITC-BA. Please Pay to Nedbank Acc Number ********** 997, Branch Code: 146905 and use M ********** 4 as reference. For queries dial ********** 875 Email ********** or Reply to this SMS.

I want to make it VERY clear, this complaint is NOT about the amount of money. It's about the PRINCIPLE. Today it's R52.90 tomorrow it's R5,290.00. Because of Lancet's UNPROFESSIONAL practice, we as the patients must bear the costs ? I DO NOT AGREE !

Please fix your error and STOP harassing me when YOU are in the wrong !