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Not long ago, a local managed-care company tried to pay Richard Hellman's medical practice $4.52 to take care of a diabetic patient when it should have paid closer to $59.
When challenged, the managed-care company attributed the low payment to poor documentation, Hellman said.
"They were lying," he said. "I met with their president. I met with their medical director. I made it very clear that we intended to fight it. We weren't going to roll over, accept it and try to make ends meet."
After a protracted battle, Hellman got the higher payment. But the fight wasn't over.
"We sent in our resignation," he said. "We won't deal with managed-care organizations like that. ... When we see companies that abuse the system, we'd rather see fewer patients and not have to deal with them. ... We're not antiinsurance company. We're anti-cheating."
Hellman's behavior is not surprising to those who know him. It grows out of a deep sense of principle and a passion for his patients and a health care system that should serve their best interest.
"There are a number of players who don't understand, and in some cases don't care, that what they're doing is very toxic to the system of health care," Hellman said. "I'll be damned if I'm going to let them ruin something that affects all of us."
Medical calling
Hellman grew up in the South Bronx in New York City.
It was that melting-pot environment that shaped his path in life.
"There were all sorts of people there, and we were all poor," Hellman said. "No one had cars or TV sets or air...