Following an initial announcement stating that a collections agency used “aggressive” tactics, Heywood Hospital now plans to work collaboratively with Phoenix Financial Group.
In its original announcement made last week, Heywood Hospital responded to numerous complaints about patients being contacted by Phoenix Financial Group.
Heywood Vice President of External Affairs Dawn Casavant previously said that Heywood, employing a practice she called “common in the health care industry,” had sold some old receivables — bills for services provided prior to February 2021 — to a company called Pendrick. She said Pendrick, described as a “reputable firm,” hired Phoenix Financial Group, “who began aggressive collection tactics.”
Saying this was inconsistent with the sale of the accounts to Pendrick, Heywood asked the company to halt all collection efforts as they relate to the receivables in question.
“We have asked Phoenix/Pendrick to stop all collection efforts and will no longer be doing business with these organizations,” Casavant said.
That situation seems to have changed, however, as a statement posted the following day claims that Heywood and Phoenix are now working “collaboratively, in good faith, to address the recent collection efforts undertaken by Phoenix.” The announcement adds that certain accounts had been sent to Phoenix in error, and research into the incident will be completed in a number of days. A spokesperson for the hospital declined to comment on the most recent announcement.
The statement reads that any Heywood patient who believes they paid Phoenix erroneously should contact the company and request the payment be returned. The original announcement the hospital posted appears to have been edited to remove any mention of aggressive collection tactics.
“Heywood has determined that Phoenix acted professionally and did nothing wrong in the collection of the accounts sent to Phoenix,” the statement reads. “Phoenix and Heywood are working expeditiously together to resolve this matter and appreciate your patience.”
