Arizona Digestive Health: Mesa - Central

"Desert Endoscopy Center handled all the billing for my colonoscopy from the Arizona Digestive Health / Desert Endoscopy Center partnership. My main provider was Dr. Mann, and everything seemed to go well in terms of care during appointments and responsiveness from front-end staff. Everyone seemed great. The couple months after my colonoscopy seemed great too. I paid all the bills I received and had a representative from billing assure me that I was paid in full. The issue occurred about 8 to 10 months later. I began re-receiving a bill that had been previously communicated to me was paid off by a credit card payment I had made. It was a small amount ($65.25) considering everything. I also began receiving calls from a member of their billing department, and automated texts, threatening to send me to collections if not paid promptly. After some phone tag, I finally got a chance to speak to the billing rep., and I explained my previous conversations with billing. She assured me she would look into it and get back to me with some clarity about what was going on within a week. She never followed up. I tried calling multiple times to get in touch, left a couple messages, but again -- totally ghosted. What's weird is that our initial conversation didn't seem tense at all. I just kinda explained what had happened, and she said she'd look into it. About a week or two ago, I received a "Final Notice" to pay the bill or that I'd be sent to collections. I didn't receive any communication from them on the issue beyond the automated threats. So I paid it to make sure it didn't impact my credit score. Yesterday, I finally had a chance to speak with a patient advocate from my insurance company. After she reviewed everything, she confirmed that there was no bill that aligned with the amount ($62.25) I had to pay, and my insurance company couldn't figure out where that charge was coming from. We're decently confident I was threatened with being sent to collections for an error on Desert Endoscopy Center's end. And they simply threatened to damage my credit without being responsive when I tried to figure out what was going on with the bill. At best, it seems unprofessional. At worst, unethically trying to cover up a basic clerical error or possibly even fraud. What's particularly frustrating is that I tried to communicate to them that I was willing to pay the amount if it really was something I owed. But if this is how they handle a minor clerical error for $65.25, I'd strongly suggest exercising caution in using services through the Arizona Digestive Health / Desert Endoscopy partnership, which their website says happens for colonoscopies. It's totally possible, from my experience, that people are being sent to collections for, or forced to pay, bills they don't owe. As great as the care was that I received from Dr. Mann and the crew, I decided to find a new gastro provider after everything that happened. I walked away from the experience feeling stolen from."

"I have been going to Arizona Digestive for a long time . Lori Petterson is a great and has taken care of me for the whole time. The staff is very knowledgeable and nice. I have never had any problems with any one. Thanks for your great service Georgie McGinnis"

"Dr Venkatesh was a new doctor for me. I was impressed how prepared he was…. Reading all the nots from my surgeon. He was very understanding with my concerns. I am very comfortable talking to him. The office staff if very friendly and very helpful. I Trust this doctor and very happy he took me as a patient."

"I’ve been going there for years seeing Dr Foutche who was awesome and Dr Sawyer( both retired now) for procedures but I always have office visits with Laurie Petersen! Laurie always listens and is full of helpful medical advice even if it’s not in her field just like a week ago! I absolutely love seeing her as she is always very knowledgeable! Laurie is the person who found I had a thyroid issue back in 2016 which was cancerous. Dr Foutche found my cancer in my intestines back in 2011and got me the best oncologist! The medical assistant for these doctors is Karen, she is very helpful and very responsive!"

"Dr. Brian Fung's office got me in quickly when I needed attention. Dr. Fung was and is very caring and listened to my concerns. He followed up with me several times. He is professional and knowledgeable. I really am grateful for him and the staff."