pmcohenpac

The new owner is the one doing all the billing since the practice was sold on 3/1/11. He/they are billing for all of the patients who were seen since July of 2007. The previous owner is contractually prohibited from having anything to do with the practice since it was sold on 3/1/11. And yes, I think it is sickening what the new ownership has done.

Posted on another forum but need to be posted here too.

Posted from another forum but needs to be here too.

It is my understanding that AWLS (Dr. Pinnar's former practice) was purchased by an entity managed (and at least partially owned) by Dr. Merchia in February of 2011. The plan was that the transition was to be seamless, that all prior patient commitments would be honored and all staff would be retained. Within days of the management change, half of the staff were let go and patients were being advised that there would be a new billing structure. Dr. Merchia circulated an unsigned, undated memo on 4/6/11 stating that "AWLS went out of business. A new bariatric aftercare group is now based in these offices, AfterBand. Phil Cohen, Dr. Pinnar's former PA, now works for the new company." The commitments of AWLS would not be honored. When I challenged Dr. Merchia regarding this memo, I was promptly terminated. Two hours later, I was un-terminated, but on 4/18/11 I was terminated again for advocating for our patients. I could write a boatload more about all the things that happened after Dr. Merchia took over the management of the practice, but for the sake of brevity I will say that none of this was supposed to happen the way it did. It is also my understanding that Dr. Pinnar is contractually prohibited from contacting the patients of AWLS. I have no reason not to believe that any claims that have been submitted after 3/1/11, have been submitted by business entities managed (and most likely owned) by Dr. Merchia. Many complaints have been submitted to the Virginia Board of Medicine. I know this because I, too, was a patient of Dr. Merchia. I was evaluated for a sleep issue, had two sleep studies and a total of nine additional office visits between November 2008 and June 2010 for which claims were submitted (in 2011) for <$140,000 (none were paid, by the way). I also had to submit a complaint to the Virginia Board because "SleepHeart" (managed and at least partially owned by Dr. Merchia), would not release copies of my medical records. My complaint resulted in a phone call from a Board investigator and a two hour face-to-face meeting. The Board was "well aware" of Dr. Merchia and his business practices. However, despite all the complaints and all the innuendo, the Board, to my knowledge, has not been able to do anything of a substantive nature, yet. If anyone has complaints about the business practices of AWLS, AfterBand, Quantum Bariatrics or SleepHeart, I suggest that you contact the Virginia Board of Medicine http://www.dhp.virgi.../complaints.htm .

Believe it or not, Dr Eric gets many compliments from seminar attendees about his kids' pictures; it has been commented by some that it gave them a feeling of his being more human. I have also heard from some who have felt as you do. I wish you good health and success. Thank you for taking the time to respond.