Billing Snafu Sends Bills to Wrong Patients, 700 Notified

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has notified approximately 700 patients after a processing error sent billing statements to incorrect addresses.

“You may have received a statement belonging to another individual,” according to the notice. “To ensure that all patient information is maintained confidential, please return the statement to TTUHSC or destroy the copy.” The error occurred on Feb. 18; the university learned of it on Feb. 20 and issued a public notice on March 22.

Information in the statements included name, account number, invoice number, service date, charge amount, department and provider name, adjustment amount, payments from insurance, amount due and total account balance, according to the notice.

The university has not received indication that the information has been accessed or used by an unauthorized individual, but recommends affected patients check with credit bureaus for unusual activity and put a fraud alert on their credit files.

Asked if the university will offer paid protection services, a spokesperson says if a request for credit and/or identity protection services is received, “we would be more than willing to help.”