You could be without even realizing it.

Nearly 250,000 small businesses across the country recently became plaintiffs in a class-action suit against the nation’s largest medical waste provider. In February, a federal judge certified this nationwide suit that alleges that the medical waste services organization violated contracts and defrauded their clients by hundreds of millions of dollars through an automatic
price-increasing scheme.

As a business that needs medical waste disposal services, it’s likely you’ve entered into a contract with a provider that offers the services you need at a set price. But just like the hundreds of thousands of business owners that were duped by the largest medical waste provider in the USA, it’s possible you could be paying too much—and not getting the highest level of quality and service.

To ensure you don’t fall victim to unfair price increases and that the company has your best interest at heart, it’s critical to pay close attention to the details of your contract and evaluate the relationship you have with your provider. Here are key things to consider:

Are annual price increases reasonable and within legal limits?

Although the prices of medical waste services can increase, any changes to your fees should be noted in your contract and should be within the legal, allowable limits as determined by your state and the federal government.

Does your provider offer the required OSHA Training?

As a provider of medical services, OSHA compliance training is required for your employees on an annual basis. Your medical waste provider should offer training, either in person or online to your entire staff as part of your contract. These courses are necessary to ensure that your company remains compliant with all related state and federal requirements.

Are they there when you need them?

A common complaint among business owners when it comes to their medical waste service providers is the lack of personalized attention and insufficient communication they experience. If you’re tired of dealing with call centers staffed by impersonal representatives who don’t know you or your company, it’s a good idea to look into a locally owned and operated company.

Have you been charged unexpected or egregious fees ?

Just like the company that cheated hundreds of thousands of customers in that class-action suit, many large medical waste providers sneak in fees that you shouldn’t have to pay. If you’re being charged for fuel or trips back and forth to your facility or other fees, it’s time to find a company that provides a straight-forward contract without hidden fees or built-in increases. Each and every fee of your contract should be written out in clear and understandable terms.

Do they cater to your company’s unique needs?

Every company is different and therefore has different needs. When it comes to your medical waste, your provider should offer services that are tailored to your specific requirements, including things like the frequency and volume of pick ups, the amount of and type of bio-hazard containers and more.

Medical waste disposal is complex and specialized—choosing an organization that you can trust and depend on is crucial to your company’s adherence to state and federal compliance regulations and to your success. If you’re concerned that you may be overpaying, or that you’re not receiving optimal services, review these tips and consider making a change.

At All Points Medical Waste, we pride ourselves on our personalized attention and the many long-term relationships we’ve built throughout Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties. Give us a call at 772-600-4885 to find out how we can partner with you for all your medical waste needs.