Unexpected psych bill, what can I do?

I have an apparent debt of $600+ for an appointment I had back in October 2022 with MCLA psychiatric group glendale Los Angeles. I did not know about this remaining copay as they didn’t send a bill or make me aware of it in any way. The psychiatrist also left her practice there without notifying me when the company switched to another company name 'lifestance health'.

I only know about all of this because I ran out of meds and they force you to make another appointment and pay them the $670 just for a few more refills. Which I have to do because withdrawals for me are life threatening. So this was an emergency situation.

I also switched insurance to medi-cal years ago and am unsure if they took it at the time or would take it now.

Their website is confusing it says the original cost was $1000+, but then the amount I owe is 670. So I think it’s a copay even though I have no idea who they billed. I hadn’t given them my current insurance yet because I thought I’d be leaving them before I’d need to. They also said they don’t take my medi-cal insurance in the past. They wouldn’t have billed any insurance yet because I didn’t have my current insurance on file with them.

So I read debts under 500 in collections may not be reported to your credit. I thought of paying part of the bill so it’s just under 500. But at the same time I don’t want to pay them a cent because of their incompetency and unethical practices.

Again I wasn’t made aware of this $670 until I called to get med refills. They then threatened to send it to collections. Are they likely to actually do that, even if the company switched hands/switched name, and there may be new employees and doctors and everything?

What rights do I have.. it’s a mess I don’t want to have to deal with and I’m hoping maybe their continued stupidity will let it get lost… or they won’t send it to collections since they were acquired by a new company .. an even greedier one though. Any suggestions on what I should do? Thank you

submitted by /u/wavefxn22
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