<p>I learned after the fact that my gynecologist has a policy of billing for a second visit in a single day if any problems other than hormonal issues arise during the annual well woman exam. </p>
<p>For example, if a bladder infection is found, she considers this no longer “well woman” and bills for a second visit if she takes 30 seconds to write a prescription. Or if she asks about a previous (separate) problem and offers to write a prescription, this is an additional bill.</p>
<p>Naturally, the insurance doesn’t pay for a second visit in one day and the patient is stuck. </p>
<p>She doesn’t warn the patients that an extra charge will be incurred. When I suggested she warn the patients she became irritated and said she goes above and beyond for her patients and gives great care and doesn’t have the time to worry about what the office does in the billing. But she nevertheless defended the billing practice.</p>
<p>I have never heard of it before. And, I would bet that she knows very well what the billing office is doing. It may be time to consider looking for a different doctor. If I were in your place, I’d let the current doctor know why exactly I left her. It’d be interesting to see how much she cares for the patients when they start leaving for doctors that don’t have this practice.</p>
<p>Get educated America. This is a change under the new ACA. My regular doctor did the same thing. I went in for a regular annual physical and he found a small/minor issue (skin rash). At that point it changed from a physical to a consultation. If you read the guidelines under ACA, this is what doctors are suppose to do!! So, my annual physical that was supposedly 100% covered by insurance under the new health care regulations, now wasn’t and I had to pay as I had no fulfilled my deductible… In my opinion it stinks. Anyone with any issue will not qualify for one free annual visit per year. I researched it on the government website and the doctors office is correct in their billing. Before I just paid a copayment, now I have to know the rules before I go in. Same for the one free mammogram appointment, if anything is found, and advice is given it no longer qualifies as a well visit. Same with colonoscopy, etc. we have a new set of rules to follow now.
The billing for a second visit–that is excessive. But was it two bills, or one covered visit and one visit not covered.</p>
<p>Yes, as Shiloh said it is allowed if the doctor bills it as a ‘consultation’. And you have to pay a co-pay if the office requests it. Flu shot at the doctor can cost $100 or more are there are ‘administrative’ fees. I take my kids to the county for shots because they are free and at the doctor’s office I was charged over $350 for the HPV shot.</p>
<p>I took my daughter for a sport’s physical and she had a bad cough/flu. Charged for 2 visits.</p>
<p>Yes. I’ve heard of this happening for the colonoscopy. If the colonoscopy finds nothing, it’s a screening exam and ‘free’. If a polyp is found and removed, however, that’s a treatment. Then the deductible comes into play.</p>
<p>I don’t think it is due to the ACA as it happened to my husband last year. He went for his annual check up and the doc (new doctor) asked him if he had any problems. My husband said, "yes, I have had knee problems since 1980). New doc offered a cortisone shot and did not examine the knee. He charged a consultation charge. I called the insurance company and they got rid of it. We now have a newer doctor.</p>
<p>I still have a GP who would call me back for minor stuff and give me prescription for free. This same GP would examine D2 over Skype while she is in school.</p>
<p>Interesting input, thanks all. This actually happened last year but my confrontation with the doctor over the bill was this year. </p>
<p>She did not change the billing from a well-woman to a problem appointment. She actually charged two appointments for the same day - a well-woman appointment AND a “medium complexity” other appointment. This despite only spending less than a minute on the problem. </p>
<p>She sees this as reasonable and refuses to warn patients about it. Her comment was “It is up to the patient to know what their insurance covers.” Which does NOT address her failure to be clear about what her office bills! When I said that, she got angry and defensive, defending her thorough care of her patients.</p>
<p>I will definitely be changing doctors. This seems fraudulent to me and I wish there were a way to report her. It seems to me the insurance companies don’t care about such practices, as they are out no additional money and it lands on the consumer. And the medical board is up to their ears in much more serious complaints.</p>
<p>I went for my annual ob-gyn exam in Oct. My doctor found something suspicious. He prescribed further tests. I was only charged for one visit. When the results came back, he called me to let me the next step. Luckily I didn’t have to go back to him to do anything further.</p>
<p>Calla- there is an easy way to report her. Simply post an online review or two that mentions her billing practices. There are many venues you can use. For future patients, forewarned is forearmed. </p>
<p>My doctor doesn’t do this either. However, instead they only bill you half the time, and when you come back the next year they say, “so, like, are you EVER going to pay your bill?” for everyone to hear. This last time I called after four months and said, “okay, so I never got a bill, do I owe you anything?” and they told me no and then I got the same treatment when I came in for my next exam.</p>
<p>I think you and I both need new doctors! I hope my new one doesn’t do this. What is the point of making well woman exams free if they’re not free if you’re not well!?</p>
<p>My GYNO has had that policy for several years, so I can’t blame it on the ACA. There are signs by the registration desk, in the bathroom, and we have to sign an acknowledgement when we update our information at check in. </p>
<p>That being said, I went to her today for my annual. My mammo had not been sent from the hospital last week, so she requested it while I was there. I mentioned a fybroid that showed up on an ultrasound last May and it turns out that she had never been sent that report (got in to see my GP first, so she ordered it). GYN was alarmed that she had never heard of it, and called out to the hospital for that as well. Did not like what she read and immediately called to make an appointment for me to have an utrasound today. </p>
<p>Even though the policy is to redefine the current visit as a problem visit and reschedule a well visit, she did not do this. I had no copay.</p>