Kaiser apologizes for billing mistakes

Kaiser Permanente Northwest apologized Wednesday for mailing inaccurate monthly billings to 17 people, primarily in Clark and Cowlitz counties, who are enrolled in the health care provider’s senior advantage Medicare plan.

The plan members received invoices on or around Oct. 12 that notified them they were delinquent in paying amounts that were in the $4,000 range, Kaiser officials said. The normal monthly amount for senior advantage members ranges from $41 to $119.

“I’m truly sorry that this issue happened,” said Brian Sage, director of the Medicare business line for Kaiser Permanente Northwest. The cause of the problem was a “fingers-on-a-keyboard mistake,” he said.

Sage said Kaiser is improving its system “to prevent this from happening again.” He said that correct invoices were sent to the 17 Kaiser members on Oct. 16.

Although only 17 of the 733 senior advantage Medicare members in Southwest Washington received the inaccurate invoice in the mail, Kaiser will send a letter about it to all 733 people, Sage said.

The letter will let them know that they don’t need to take any action, he said, and that they’re welcome to call Kaiser’s membership services with questions.