Dr. Ariel Rodriguez Pimentel

My review is not specifically about Dr. Rodriguez or my surgery. It is about his office staff. On my last visit prior to my surgery, Jackie (office manager) insisted that I had to pay $1,500. When I stated that my insurance would be covering the costs of the surgery and that I would need to check with them to determine what would be my portion of the bill, she stated that I would have to $1,500 prior to them scheduling a surgery date. After contacting my insurance and the Bariatric Nurse (who happens to be part of the surgical team at the hospital), I was informed of the surgical code and that my portion of the bill would not be more than $180.00. Significant difference from $1,500. The insurance would be covering all of the other expenses per their negotiated rate. At that point I spoke with Jackie again, providing her with all of the information stated. When she realized that I knew exactly what I was going to have to pay and even the surgical code, she backed down and… scheduled the surgery. This did not leave a good impression. In fact, I thought it was highly unethical. Had I paid the $1,500, I would probably still be battling the office to receive my reimbursement. After the surgery, when I went back to the office for my 1st follow-up visit and had already paid my portion of the negotiated rate, I am sitting in the lobby, with other patients, and I hear Jackie tell the nurse - "Tell her she has a $180 balance on her account." The nurse, very unprofessionally, opens the window and shouts out to me that I have a balance to be paid while there are other patients sitting in the lobby. She did not ask me to approach the window, she simply stated it for everyone to hear. I was infuriated! Not only did I NOT owe them anything (the bill had already been paid), but now they were announcing this to everyone who was sitting in the lobby. No apology - nothing. At that point I had absolutely no intention of ever returning to that office again. However, I received an appointment card and a phone call from Jackie stating that I HAD to come back for my 4 month "follow-up" visit. That it was required as Dr. Rodriguez had performed the surgery and had to see how I was doing. When I questioned whether I would be charged for this "follow-up" visit, I was told: "NO, it is part of your surgery. You have three follow-up visits." So, I scheduled the appointment. When I got to the office, I asked Jackie again, I am going to be charged for this visit? Again she stated, "No, there would not be a charge." In fact, she issued me a credit for a payment that I had made in excess. Within two weeks of my 4 month "follow-up" visit, I got a bill for $108.00. When I called to find out what I was being charged for, Jackie stated that follow-up visits were only those completed within the first 90 days of the surgery and since that visit was past the 90 days, I would have to pay the $108.00 (my portion of the negotiated insurance rate). She had never mentioned anything like that to me when she called insisting that I had to have a follow-up visit with Dr. Rodriguez even though she knew full well that this was my 4 month "follow-up" visit. Obviously, 4 months is past 90 days. Her unprofessional conduct and completely unethical behavior is extremely unacceptable to me and should be unacceptable to Dr. Rodriguez. This type of behavior can destroy the reputation of an office and a medical practice. I would NEVER recommend that anyone deal with Dr. Rodriguez Pimentel. Shame on them. No one deserves to be swindled. You have to wonder how desperate they must be to trick patients into unnecessary visits in order to make a few extra bucks. PATIENTS BEWARE!

After year and half I don’t have a word to express my satisfaction with my Bariatric surgery thank Ariel