firewatcher Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 I know that I am not the sweetest, most docile of patients, but this one takes the cake: "Office Consult High Complexity - $699.00"Huh? Because it was a first appointment and he'd never heard of POTS and he had to actually read something and THINK about it, I get stuck with a double charge?!!! Insurance paid half already, so I got billed for the other half. I spent less than a half an hour of the man's time! It was a fairly simple question, heaven help those who really need someone to think about their medical condition!AAAAaaaaargh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue1234 Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 They do it just because they can do it. That is ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopeSprings Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Wow, so what is that $1400.00 an hour? Man I wish I went to medical school! That is outrageous and he didn't even KNOW anything??? I'd write a letter if I were you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lieze Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Did you like the doctor?Are you going back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted April 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 "Did you like the doctor?Are you going back?"Um, he was OK, but no I'm not going back. There is no need. But if I do, it better come with babysitting, a date and dinner! Maybe a day in the Bahamas as well! Dad-gum, that's practically a mortgage payment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dizzysillyak Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Geesh ... I've been sick for 21 years with a complicated illness and never heard of this one ... Can you call your insurance company and ask them about this ? There has to be a reason that they only paid him 1/2. I would assume it's based on what they feel his time is worth. I thought that only specialists who actually have answers to challenging questions get this kind of pay and they have to tell you in advance what their rates are ... Were you told in advance that it was going to cost this much ? That's an outrageous fee for such a short period of time. dizzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdlady Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Wow that is unacceptable. This sounds like insurance fraud, seriously. Why would any doctor need to charge that much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christy_D Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Boy! I've never heard of that. My son's first consultation with his POTS doctors in Cleveland lasted about 3 hours and there was just a normal fee charged. He had an hour long appt with his new neurologist and just a normal fee. That sounds like highway robbery(without the gun).Christy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heathmcev Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Yeah - that's insane. I'd call your insurance as well as the dr's office to contest it. especially if you're not going back to him - there's no need to do him any favors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyt Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 thats ust insane.. He surly thinks very highly of him self ... I know health care is way to expensive in the usa, but this tops evrything.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewatcher Posted April 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Whew,The $699.00 is what he wants to charge...insurance said no and lowered it to somewhere in the $300 range. I thought they had paid half already. Still, $699 for a half an hour is like a ride in a private jet! Just not nearly as fun...and a whole lotta needles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comfortzone Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 I had something similar about ten years ago. Had no insurance and the visit was to a rheumatologist - as an ortho doc said I had monoarticular rheumatoid arthritis even though all tests were normal.I had a lot of questions about RA & how this ortho came up with it as a dx.... so I asked them. And the doc answered them. And I left. In the mail came a bill with a huge charge for a new patient visit with something like 'extended or extensive' problem fee. I called and asked what is this multi-hundred dollar extended visit fee about? She said it had to do with time the doc spent with me. I told her that was highway robbery - and if you are going to do that - you have to let the patients know you are going to do that. Had they told me I assure you with what little money I had at the time - I would have brought with me a kitchen timer and set it for the customary 5 minute office visit!I was very angry and let them know it - and they got rid of the extra charge on my bill....Reminds me of a groomer I had for my Old English Sheepdog. I had her groomed monthly - well I moved and had to try a new groomer. The first visit was a normal charge.......the second visit more.......the third visit more ........ till finally it was like 200 bucks to groom my dog who was clean as a whistle and gorgeous because I took great care of her...... I demanded an explanation! She told me, "I could do 10 dogs for the time it takes me to do one Old English Sheepdog ~ "???????Well needless to say I never went back - found a different groomer who loved my little puffball & who did a great job for the customary 40 bucks I was used to.It's crazy to me that they rip people off that way - I mean morally wouldn't you kind of just assume that some patients are going to be a 5 minute visit - the whole, "say ahhh" - "take a deep breath" - b/p, hr and you are done type visit - and some patients would have a longer visit - such as a fever of unknown origin, or a diabetic in near ketoacidosis.....or heaven forbid a patient with dysautonomia..... It's all in a days work - they balance out the day -- some long, some short.If they are going to follow that logic - then if I only take 2.5 minutes of their time - would I get a nice hefty discount? sigh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sallysblooms Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 That is a new one on me for sure, unreal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopeSprings Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 "If they are going to follow that logic - then if I only take 2.5 minutes of their time - would I get a nice hefty discount? sigh "Love it! LOL. Or even better, maybe we should be charging them for the hour wait, with an additional tax for time wastage when they don't KNOW anything. My time is worth something too! Yes, I have Doctor resentment issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliegee Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdlady Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 The fact they removed the charge tells me it is a form of insurance fraud. If it was necessary, then why could they just remove it. You know? They thought you had insurance and was trying to get as much money from them as possible. I know for a fact that 1 doctor office did this to me years ago because my dad had very good insurance through his work. Although an extra $700 is pretty extreme in the case of the OP! They charged me for a complex visit ($120) rather than the normal visit ($80) for an appointment that was no longer than usual. It is sickening and these doctor offices need investigated and charged if the investigation finds something criminal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandymbme Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 That is absolutely outrageous! I would be furious! And it can't hurt to try to negotiate with the office over your portion of the fee, even if the insurance company had it waived. The worst they can do is say no!Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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