Should I pay this potentially fraudulent medical bill?

In 2021, my wife and I each visited an Urgent Health clinic called Northwell GoHealth in New York City twice for Covid tests. No symptoms, no medical consultation – we just needed the negative tests for work travel (we’re self-employed so this falls on us).

At the time, the clinic was advertising free covid tests with insurance. At each visit, we presented our health insurance cards and we were told by the receptionist that the test was free and that we would not incur any charges for the visit.

A year later, we have each received a bill for $1100 ($550 per visit), totaling $2200 for the two of us.

I of course immediately consulted my insurance company, who told me that the the clinic billed them for two items for each date: the covid test (which my insurance covered completely) and an “office visit” that was required to administer the covid test (which my insurance company doesn’t cover).

I have been on the phone with the clinic’s billing department countless times. We were never informed that there would be an office visit charge. The tests were advertised as free, the receptionist confirmed for us that we would not be charged. We received no medical care besides receiving the covid test.

Then I found this article: https://ilovetheupperwestside.com/northwell-health-covid-test-fraud-claims/

The headline is “Former Prosecutor Says Northwell Health is Committing Fraud Following COVID Tests.”

The article describes many people who are in the same situation as we are. They were told by the same clinic that the covid test was free, and now are being charged hundreds of dollars for each “office visit.”

From the article: “I’m not paying for medical services I didn’t get. I made multiple calls and told [Northwell] that what they were doing is fraud, against the law, and that the U.S. Attorney’s office might be interested in this. I used to prosecute fraud cases. They’re charging insurers for office visits that didn’t happen. That’s fraud.”

One of the victims of this fraudulent billing was my local City Council Member, Gale Brewer (as reported in the article). She managed to have the charges reversed on her account. So, I contacted her office. Her staff asked me to submit copies of my bills from Northwell GoHealth and they would include them in a complaint that they were already filing for other people with the New York Department of Health against Northwell GoHealth for fraudulent billing practices.

The City Council office warned me that it could take a while to get any result on this complaint filing.

A few days ago, I received a “filing billing notice” from the clinic, with an indication that in 30 days the bill would go to collections. I called the city council’s office, and they said there is no update yet on the complaint filing.

I’m scared of hurting my credit by not paying the bill, but it seems that there is a case to be made that the bill is fraudulent. What do you all suggest that I do in this situation?

Thanks for your help.