Q: How will CALMBA safeguard my healthcare information?

Please see our Privacy Policy here(javascript:void(0)). We secure your data with SSL socket encryption, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Enterprise, and Salesforce Enterprise Licenses. While we are not subject to HIPAA since we are not a covered entity (health plan, healthcare provider, or healthcare learning house) or a business associate of covered entity, we developed our privacy and data security based on HIPAA compliance.

Question 1

Who is CALMBA?

Accepted Answer

We are a group of volunteers who believe that too many patients are receiving surprise and unjust medical bills. We believe that this is a structural issue (javascript:void(0))of the U.S. healthcare system and that it is unjust for the responsibility to fall on the patient, so we created CALMBA to help patients.

Question 2

What can CALMBA do?

Accepted Answer

If you received a surprise and / or excessive medical bill, fill out a case submission (javascript:void(0))form.  We will evlaute the situation and try to negotiate the bill down to a more reasonable level. Our group consists of lawyers, doctors, healtcare finance executives, and professors at law school / medical school.  There are many possible strategies to negotiate reduction in medical bills, and we use our experience to help.
 
We can negotiate most kinds of medical bills (hospital, physician, laboratory, imaging, etc.) in California.  Note that we are unlikely to eliminate the entire bill, but in most cases we can negoitate a significant reduction if we accept your case.

Question 3

I want help.  How does this work?

Accepted Answer

1).  Submit a case and describe your situation with as much detail as possible.
 
2).  Our experts will analyze your situation and evaluate whether our strategy can help you.
 
3).  If we decide to take your case, we will ask you to upload documents to our secure server.  All work will be conducted through phone and email.
 
4).  If your bill(s) in collection, we will notify the collection agency that the medical bill is being disputed.
 
5).  We will work closely with you to negotiate a reduction in your bill(s).  We know this is very complicated for most people, and we will guide you every step of the way.

Question 4

How much does this cost?

Accepted Answer

Unlike other negotiators who normally charge 35% of savings (i.e. if they save you $1000 they charge you $350), CALMBA is a non-profit supported by grants and donations so we do not charge the patients. We are volunteers joined by a common cause, and we want to help people who cannot afford to pay their medical bills.  Submit (javascript:void(0))your case and we will make an honest assessment on whether we can help you. 
 
However, please feel free to donate and pay it forward if we successfully negotiate down your bill, so that we can grow the organization and help more people. We are a 501(c)(3) public charity and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. Law.

Question 5

Why is CALMBA doing this for free?

Accepted Answer

The founder of CALMBA had personally been affected by a surprise medical bill in 2016. He was an experienced healthcare finance executive and was able to successfully negotiate and eliminate the bill. However he felt that the situation was unjust, and the average American would have a tough time navigating the complex healthcare system. In 2019, he executed on his vision to launch CALMBA as a non-profit to help others. See here (javascript:void(0))for more details.

Question 6

How will CALMBA negotiate my bill?

Accepted Answer

We will first evaluate your situation and make a decision on whether to take on your case. If we take on your case, we will negotiate through a combination of financial, medical, and legal strategies. Our Board of Directors and Officers consist of ex-healthcare executives, professors from UCSF and UC Hastings, and healthcare lawyers. Each case is different, but we use our collective experience to help.

Question 7

How will CALMBA safeguard my healthcare information?

Accepted Answer

Please see our Privacy Policy here​(javascript:void(0)).  We secure your data with SSL socket encryption, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Enterprise, and Salesforce Enterprise Licenses.  While we are not subject to HIPAA since we are not a covered entity (health plan, healthcare provider, or healthcare learning house) or a business associate of covered entity, we developed our privacy and data security based on HIPAA compliance.