Cambridge Health Alliance

The Patients Relations Dept. wrote me a message after reading my review on Unilocal.I guess they do care … about the reviews, that is.
For my last visit at CHA (because I am no longer a patient there, and will never go back), I was charged $ 400++ (before insurance coverage) for what was coded as «office visit» when it was supposed to be a «Physical» exam. That morning of the visit, the receptionist called to confirm if the visit was to be a «physical.» During the actual visit, the physician’s assistant (PCA) who saw me confirmed with me that it was a physical exam. Yet, the visit was billed as an illness visit, meaning I had some illness and was seeing a doctor to get help.
What’s the worst is that during my visit, since I was not ill, the PCA asked me questions that I felt was leading towards something … e.g. «Are you always anxious?» «Do you like to see doctors very often?» etc. Then she suggested that I should see a therapist/​psychologist within the network. I went ??? I told my friends and family about this «recommendation» and they all burst into laughter. I am 100% sure I am a psychologically healthy. What a horrible recommendation!
Then, she told me that patients like me who see doctors when nothing is wrong with them are incurring huge healthcare costs for the country. Is that what healthcare personnel are supposed to even say???
What’s not the worst but almost as bad is that I wrote to the Patients Relations about the billing. No reply. I called. I was told «the medical director» was reviewing my case. Really? The medical director of the group? Wow. Just wow.
But, of course, there was no reply. I decided to pay my wrongly-​billed bill. They got my money. Let them. It’ll be and it is the last time. I surrender.
To others considering going to CHA, make sure you have some good insurance coverage since one visit to a PCA (not even a doctor) costs $ 400++, excluding other misc. charges for tests etc.

The worst physical I have ever experienced. The PA literally asked me «what’s wrong» did no other exam and then told me I was set to go. I asked her about a prescription and I watched as she googled my question. I now have a bill because their billing department coded the visit wrong. When I called to explain this the woman was less then unhelpful. My insurance confirmed they need to resubmit the claim with a corrected code. Will never return.

I pretty much only go to the doctor for my annual physical. This should be free but they always send me a bill so I have to call billing but the person on the phone knows nothing and can’t do anything.

I was a patient in the adult psychiatry inpatient unit in september. I’ve been hospitalized for psych reasons many times unfortunately so I have seen many many facilities from top to worst. The thing about Cambridge hospital psych inpatient is that the treatment is amazing. Almost all the staff and doctors on the unit were mind blowingly kind and attentive to literally all of my needs and concerns. All of my questions were answered. They did everything possible to keep me as comfortable as possible and I applaud them for this. The doctor I had was superb and I left several sessions with him in joyful tears from the feeling of finally feeling listened to. I recommend this unit to anyone who is looking for a brief inpatient hospitalization.

Since my last review, I’ve since switched PCP’s and facilities so I don’t have to deal with CHA’s terrible billing department. Yet somehow, even 6 months after switching, I am still dealing with it.
In February of 2015, I had a service that required an out of pocket payment. I have an HRA that covers this 100% in full. The HRA company tells me to ignore the bills that I receive through CHA because they already have paid the medical facility. So I get three bills from CHA from Feb through June. I call them and tell them that my HRA company has already paid the bill, they say they haven’t. So I spend a morning getting both parties on the phone. It turns out that CHA gives the wrong billing address to third-​party HRA providers. While my HRA provider paid the bill, the address was wrong so they never received it. So I ask them to work it out and the HRA company sends me a receipt of payment which I then fax over to CHA.
Now it is October and I haven’t heard from them since. So I assume everything is all set.
Today, I just got a bill from the collections agency. It has been exhausting going back and forth between my HRA provider and my medical provider trying to sort this out. And now, I have to deal with collections AND the HRA provider again!
CHA’s billing never ceases to be a total shit-​storm. I have spent countless hours trying to sort this out. It is one of the most frustrating things I have ever had to do. I can’t wait to work this out with collections and never have to deal with CHA’s billing ever again. CHA — if you’re reading this… please look into your billing department. It sucks. Please make it better for your future patients.

*THIS IS FOR CHS CLINIC IN EVERETT ON BROADWAY ST.* I couldn’t find it in the results so I’m putting this review here.
Okay I’m new to the area, just recently moved and needed to see a doctor asap for some medications. I have Dr. Engelbart and Stacy who are wonderful I love them both. Very professional, hear you out on what you need and work with you at the same time making you comfortable. Also like to include Alex who is a social worker that has been so wonderful. 5 STARS TO THESE 2 DOCTORS AND THIS PARTICULAR SOCIAL WORKER! :)
THE ONE STAR IS THE FRONT DESK/​PEOPLE WHO ANSWER CALLS. I can’t even begin, if I could I’d give no stars. So rude, interrupt you while you’re talking, changed my appointment without even letting me know?! Called in to respond to a voicemail about vaccines. I get this girl and she’s like, «what’s your reason? «and I start explaining of the voicemail only to get barely 4 words in and she’s like «yeah alright. Okay. I can have you come in tomorrow.» Like sorry I made you do your job. It was so rude, it’s not like I’m explaining my life story to you. And another call I was going to be late a few minutes and this lady was so disrespectful she’s like «how many minutes is it going to be 10, 20, an hour?» And both said it with such an attitude I’m thinking to myself am I working with adults or teenagers?
I feel bad this place is getting an awful rating for people like this, not sure of the other locations. Ruins it for the doctors and nurses that are actually doing their jobs right. But if you want to call or schedule something here in Everett just go in and do it in person because I’d like to see for myself if I’d be getting this much attitude in person when I’m standing directly in front of them with how much I get over the phone.

Terribly lazy staff with little care for making the patients feel like they are putting them out by being there. Awful doctors, nurses, and staff. Had to wait the hours for a simple test that took two minutes with a nurse.

Came here today after fasting so I was in a bit of a hangry mode. Came here for a medical exam and was waiting in the lobby 15 minutes over when I was supposed to be seen but it wasn’t an issue since the nurse apologized for the delay which always makes things better.
The nurses and doctors who I met were very nice and pleasant. I enjoyed my appointment. There was a lot of parking so that won’t be a problem and it’s near a T stop so you’re good either way.

I received terrific care in CHA’s emergency room (Cambridge Hospital). However, dealing with the billing department has been a total nightmare. The employees there, in marked distinction to the healtcare providers, are uncaring and completely incompetent. For this reason alone, I will not seek care here again.

They sent my paid debt to debt collections. I paid it months ago, but some asshole in their accounting department can’t do his job, so now I have to deal with this bullshit. Fuck CHA. I left them because Harvard Vanguard was less expensive and didn’t constantly try to schedule unnecessary appointments and tests to squeeze more money out of me.

I went to the CHA (Somerville branch) both last year for an annual check up, as well as several years ago while in college. My PCP, Dr. Arshiya Seth, was and continues to be the best doctor I’ve had since I was a kid, very attentive to my needs and health. I first learned about the Cambridge Health Alliance back in college when I got sick with a really bad throat infection. It was hard to breathe, swollow food, or even talk. I didn’t have a doctor at the time because I had moved to Boston and didn’t have a health plan through my school. I was trying to avoid going to an emergency room and get stuck with a huge bill. A friend of mine from Cambridge recommended going to the CHA. Dr. Seth was able to reschedule her day to get me in on a short notice appointment. I would recommend anyone going to the CHA to request her, and would recommend the CHA in general. Her supervisor was great as well during my check up a while back. Double thumbs up!

I’ve honestly never been so frustrated and irritated by such an incompetent group of «professionals.» About a year ago, I had a routine doctor’s appointment with Dr. Abigail Love. My insurance company claims the appointment was coded as a treatment, not preventative appointment, and didn’t cover a substantial portion.
It turns out, Dr. Love did code the appointment correctly, but the CHA decided not to resubmit it to my insurance company. Instead, they decided to constantly send me bill after bill for my appointment. I’ve probably spent the better part of a year — hours of phone calls, tons of energy invested in navigating their incompetent, useless bureaucracy — trying to get them to understand that I a) have written them a check — that they cashed! and b) don’t owe them the other amount they keep charging me. The slogan at CHA should be, «Sorry, I can’t help you, that’s not my problem, but how about I place you on hold?»
I will NEVER seek treatment here again, and I strongly advise others against doing so. It’s too bad, because Dr. Love was a terrific doctor, and I thought the quality of medical care I received was top-​notch. But the incompetence of the staff has left such a bitter taste in my mouth that I wish I hadn’t ever set foot in this place.

This is the worst medical care I’ve received in Massachusetts. Isn’t this state known for its good healthcare? I’m frankly horrified.
Came in to get stitches where I’d torn my chin open in a bike accident. Sat in the room for three hours, dripping blood and pus down myself while the nurses/​doctors wrestled with screaming, strung-​out patients in the halls. Then the student doctor was ordered to come in and give me glue stitches, which he didn’t do only because he told the observing doctor — twice — that he’d never done glue stitches before and had no idea how to do them. Which, hey, first time for everything, ‘cept that the doctor then came in and showed him how to do it, and did it wrong. I now have a big dirty scar where the glue wasn’t set enough and opened up, leaving my face to heal how it would’ve if I’d not bothered to go to the ER at all.
A week later, I was in the ER twice for a severe allergic reaction and uncontrollable vomiting. Got sent home both times. Visited another ER and was instantly admitted, because I was so sick I needed to be hospitalized and healed for a week. Did Cambridge Health Alliance know that? Nope. They just wanted to change me $ 100 for each visit, then send me home to die.
THANKS GUYS.
I don’t recommend going here unless you’re dying and have NO other option. It’s just not a good medical facility at ALL.

My doctor is excellent. The staff, less so.
I love my PCP. He’s friendly, knowledgeable, and remembers me even though he sees me about once every six months. I have nothing to complain about him, nor about the various other doctors and nurses I happen to have met with in my time there.
Unfortunately, the staff is less useful. I ended up saddled with a $ 1200 ambulance bill because their financial manager didn’t return calls or emails in a timely manner, and I ran out of time to file a dispute with the dispatcher. I skipped work to meet with my doctor for a prescription, only for him to say that if his own staff had asked him for the scrip he would have faxed it to me without an appointment. I asked for genetic counseling with my wife to be, and the secretary had never heard of this routine safety step.
Don’t trust the staff to do ANYTHING. Talk directly to the doctors. But if you DO get to work with the doctors, you will be 100% satisfied.

Dr Hirsh is the best doctor I have ever had/​can ever imagine!!!