Need help with lab bill and unhelpful doctor’s office

Last September, my husband had lab work done at Quest in Colorado. With the diagnostic code submitted, our insurance covered all but $137. In March, the doctor ordered new labs to check if the Rx was working. They submitted a different diagnostic code, and our insurance denied it, leaving us with a $741 bill.

I’ve spoken with insurance multiple times, and they maintain that if the doctor submits the correct/previous diagnostic code to Quest, the labs will be covered. I’ve reached out to the doctor’s office several times via voicemail and email (and kept a log), providing screenshots of both orders and requesting the same diagnostic code. Instead, they resubmitted to Quest with different procedure codes, so insurance denied it again.

My husband likes this doctor, who is a specialist. It’s a small office and they split their time between Colorado and North Dakota so it’s’ not an option to just show up at their office. I'm pretty sure the billing department is this one woman I'm dealing with, who is also the person who makes appointments. They rarely answer the phone, and their outgoing message says calls will be returned in a few days to a week. I’m trying to be friendly and not a PITA in every conversation, but I need their help! The last email response from the office said they’ll get to this in a week or two. That was three weeks ago and I've heard nothing, so I'll have to start another round of nudging.

In the meantime, we’re stuck. Is there any agency or authority I can appeal to for resolution? Reaching the doctor directly is impossible through this gatekeeper.

Thankfully, we can afford to pay this bill if necessary, but I hate to do it on principle.

Appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.

submitted by /u/Lucky_Cheeto24
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