Forefront Dermatology Questionable Practice

The Forefront Dermatology Questionable Practice is an investigation of one practice of Forefront Dermatology, S.C. or Forefront Dermatology, which is also marketed as Forefront Dermatology and Affiliated Practices and forefrontdermatology.com (hereinafter, Forefront Dermatology), which appears to be misleading if not fraudulent. This text draft has been published in order to investigate the issue. This text draft doesn't intend in any way to accuse Forefront Dermatology in anything until they react. On February 27th, 2021, Forefront Dermatology was notified and offered to provide their perspective on the issue. Their silence may be interpreted as acceptance of their fraud.

Discovery

Initial report

In early October of 2020, Mr. Sh. realized his need in medical services of a dermatologist. The need was not urgent. Mr. Sh. had a Cigna insurance and looked for a medical service provider whose services would be covered by his insurance. Mr. Sh. executed the Google search for "dermatologist cigna" and the result returned Zocdoc.com's "Best Cigna Dermatologists" near him. He clicked and this online medical appointment booking service offered Mr. Sh. to book an appointment with Dr. Rhett Kent, MD in Arlington, VA. Mr. Sh. called the Dr. Rhett Kent, MD's office and they confirmed that they accept the Mr. Sh.'s Cigna insurance as in-network medical. Dr. Rhett Kent, MD is listed at the Forefront Dermatology website as their affiliated doctor.

When Mr. Sh. arrived in the office, he presented his insurance card. The office of Dr. Rhett Kent, MD confirmed again that they accept Mr. Sh.'s insurance as in-network medical and his co-pay would be around 5% of the bill. That was why Mr. Sh. agreed on accepting Dr. Rhett Kent, MD's services.

However, in late 2020, Mr. Sh. received the Cigna notification that they cannot cover their portion of the bill. Mr. Sh. called Cigna and they said that they no longer worked with that doctor, at least, on those procedures. Then, Mr. Sh. called the office of Dr. Rhett Kent, MD. There, Mr. Sh. was explained that they used to work with Cigna, but no longer work.

Surprisingly, Mr. Sh. received a mailing not from Dr. Rhett Kent, MD's office, but from Forefront Dermatology. Later, they also sent their "past-due" notice. Mr. Sh. guesses that the Dr. Rhett Kent, MD's office and/or Forefront Dermatology, at least, misled him and attracted him to the services that Mr. Sh. wasn't willing to accept if he knew the payment details. Mr. Sh. agrees to pay his promised share, not the whole bill.

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First notification

On February 27th, the mailings were sent to both Dr. Rhett Kent, MD and Forefront Dermatology. Both were notified about the report and offered to take actions to clear the issue. As of April 18th, 2021, none of them has responded. The investigators of CNM Cyber interpret that silence as acceptance of Mr. Sh.'s accusations.