Prairie Care gets a lower Better Business Bureau Grade

That's right.
Prairie Care LLC has chosen to ignore the Better Business Bureau.

Your complaint will remain in the company's business review for 36 months, our standard reporting period. That review is made available to the consuming public, the news media and various regulatory agencies. Your complaint will reflect the lack of response by Prairie Care LLC and cause their BBB grade to drop. Hopefully your complaint will spare another consumer from having the same experience that you had. 

Can't blame me for your lack of response to numerous attempts including certified letters you accepted. You could have answered them with your side.

I had the same complaint myself about what I saw as serial unprofessional behavior.
That was my opinion.

Thanks for proving me right. You may still have my overcharge, and still have done, in my view a very shoddy job of care, and an even worse job of caring to improve--but no matter how much you took from us. I continue to win by getting the word out and proving it.

There are several stops to go. And I know I have gotten the ear of folks who make referral recommendations to parents.

I thought initially it was all about a buck for them. Maybe I was wrong.

Hubris? Vanity? Stupidity? Who knows?

But care of families or doing their best for the mental health of children? Well, that's disputable.

I do know they are taking steps as a direct result of my quality of care comments to the state ombudsman. Another win! Future families will be better off and for that I am grateful.

The final determination on whether they delivered appropriate care is of course, one to be discussed by qualified, impartial medical professionals. I am not certain Prairie Care is aware of that. I got the impression they thought an ombudsman who is not a medical professional could decide that. Silly-billies. Only impartial medical professionals are qualified to weigh in on that.

Also, billing is a separate issue from care.
 I am not certain they are aware of that either. But hopefully their time with me will teach them those things in a clear fashion.

Also, gossip isn't fact. But facts are painful when they contradict aren't they?
Voice mails are the best.

I am actually not frustrated in the least but I appreciate the BBB's concern. I kind of expected it.
And truthfully, It has only made our side stronger. So I have no complaints at all. I have been seeking validation, justice, and truth-- and so far, I have won every time.

I may be out money, I may find their care and behavior inappropriate and at times creepy--and may never get our history with them fixed. (It really couldn't be 100%-- but that is my own burden for knowing I could have never brought him there)

But I can help others have a better future experience.


Just gather facts, check all options, and get absolutely everything in writing.
If they are right for you- I don't begrudge you, as one size does not fit all.  Just keep your eyes open wherever you land.

And remember, over treatment can be just as bad as over medicating.
You aren't dealing with superior beings. Parents know their own best.

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Here's what the Better Business Bureau of MN wrote about Prairie Care LLC.
And the drop can be seen on the BBB website. 

Subject: BBB Complaint Case#57245836(Ref#19-96174225-57245836-17-500)
Reply-To: "Better Business Bureau" <stpaul.al@bbb-email.org>

After numerous attempts via telephone and certified mail trying to reach this company, they have chosen not to respond to our requests. We understand this does not resolve your complaint against the company and empathize with your frustration over this issue. We will be closing the case as "unanswered". 

From: "Better Business Bureau" <stpaul.al@bbb-email.

Subject: BBB Complaint Case#57245836(Ref#19-96174225-57245836-17-500)
Reply-To: "Better Business Bureau" <stpaul.al@bbb-email.org>

After numerous attempts via telephone and certified mail trying to reach this company, they have chosen not to respond to our requests. We understand this does not resolve your complaint against the company and empathize with your frustration over this issue. We will be closing the case as "unanswered". 

Does overbilling happen?

Yes.

http://www.nursetogether.com/Lifestyle/Lifestyle-Article/itemid/2384.aspx


http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/17/local/la-me-southpas-doctor-20120818

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/oig-cracks-down-medicaid-over-billing

http://www.examiner.com/article/healthcare-is-so-expensive-due-to-gross-over-billing-by-hospitals

http://www.centerforinquiry.net/forums/viewthread/14836/

(just google heath care overbilling--there's no lack of info on this)

So what's the solution? Here are some suggestions, and considering how rampant this problem is--let's start looking at solutions. Whether it's your bill or not,in the end, we all pay if nothing is done.

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1205225

When you feel like you've been mugged.

Hang in there.

When you know what you were told.
When  you laid out facts and were met with a stonewall.
When you tried.

When you know the truth.

When things are getting better despite them.

When you know.

When you know.

The Mr. Burns of the world can clutch their bills tight.

But you know.

And in the end, so does the guy up there.

It hurts, you feel violated, but in the end..you may be poorer in the pocket, but it's better than being more poor in the heart and mind.

Stonewalling and you

Let's say you have been trying to get information or a complaint resolved and you are met, first something unacceptable, and then.... with ...nothing. No acknowledgment that you, a tiny little bug even exists. You may even have facts, data...it doesn't matter bug. Go away.

That's stonewalling.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-stonewalling.htm


While effective in the short term-it may create long term problems.

For example, the person may decide to be quiet, for a while. Years even.

Then suddenly..you've got to deal with them again...and they can rack up the stonewall evidence, and come at you even stronger. Then you look even worse.

Just an opinion, but dealing head-on, whether you like the person or not..will save you from looking purposefully deceitful down the road.

So, if you find yourself against this tactic. Don't give up and don't feel bad.

They're just making it worse for themselves later. It makes them look like they have something to hide.

Wait them out, and try again.

And if they still stonewall and you find yourself with your head in their guillotine, well... you can always start a blog.

Minnesota AG and Health Care

Many Minnesota hospitals are in an agreement with the Attorney General on billing practices.

It may be worthwhile to make sure the hospital you choose is among them.

You'll also find numerous information on the site about billing--and an interesting read was about a case detailing collection practices by one company that is now not allowed in the state. Yikes.

We want to trust--but is that wise?

http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Publications/MedicalBillingPointers.asp

Overbilling and you

 This remains our opinion and experiences only and is not endorsed or affiliated to Prairie Care hospitalization programs. It is opinion based on a parent's experience. All experiences are unique.

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One issue we have run into as parents, separate from care--is when we feel overbilled, who do we go to if the health care facility just ignores you? We have spent a lot of time on point by points and requested documentation. And so, what do you do when you get no response?

BBB-well, so far, not a word. We filed online and can't find it. Not even sure this is the best place to go.

We checked with commerce and they don't handle billing for hospitals.

So now we are going to the Attorney General. We'll keep you posted.



It is difficult being one person vs Goliath. That's why we offer our opinion to get it all, everything, in writing.

We have a lot, so I don't know if it's the end all be all solution-but one can hope it will help.

We do worry that the lawyers will come at us for our opinions here. That's why we say over and over it's our opinion. But are we nervous? You bet. But we know we have a right to an opinion. So, since all we have is free speech..I guess that's all we have.



In life generally, bullies don't seem to stop being bullies, even when they have chance after chance. But we've always been taught to stand up to bullies-or they will keep it up to others.

Some Organizations

We do not endorse or support any of these sites, just offer them for informational purposes and encourage parents to do their own research and interviews when they are not in an emergency- in no way should this listing be considered complete or an endorsement:



Autism Speaks, an advocacy center

http://www.autismspeaks.org/

MN Children's Mental Health Division:

http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_000162

Hennepin County, Childrens Mental Health Collaborative:

http://www.hccmhc.com/

Signs of ADHD from Web MD and Mayo:

http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-symptoms

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/adhd/DS00275/DSECTION=symptoms

A list of some therapists and centers in MN dealing with Autism:

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_results.php?state=MN&spec=167


http://pactinstitute.com/about-us

http://www.mnautism.org/

http://www.lazarusprojectmn.org/

http://www.fraser.org/

https://www.ausm.org/




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Prairie Care Sucks (Maple Grove and Edina) is not affiliated with Prairie Care Hospital in Clinic Services and is strictly an opinion of the care and billing practices based on our own unique experiences. Some of the sites listed may reference that organization, we believe all parents are entitled to their own opinion and research and expect that some may be content and find that a good fit.

As always, we encourage parents to get everything in writing, everything. Just our opinion as parents and not health care providers, students, or administrators.