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I've learned to read my labs pretty well. If something is WAY out of line, then it's worth a visit to doc for their help, then I am willing to pay or not. If some readings/ranges are a bit out of line, then I do my research and work on getting into better ranges.
I'm one here who avoids drugs as best I can and so go to work with all that is out there to help ourselves.
Me, too. I avoid drugs as much as I can. I've been reviewing my lab results for decades. I'm not one to take medications doctors suggest w/o researching that on my own. And it's not like I have any medical conditions. As far as I know, I don't.
Thanks. There are actually a couple of labs in town where I can go to get various kinds of blood work. But I'd have to pay, when in fact, my blood work has already been done and paid for!
But push come to shove, that's what I may do.
Being able to get your own blood work here has been this way for as long as I remember. I just moved back here after retiring, but decades ago, I remember going to the public lab to get a pregnancy test. No doctor involved. They did it, and sent me the results directly. No doctor. You could go and get any standard lab work done.
Bottom line, doctors can make up their own regulations, some are more $$$ driven and others. You've heard that slogan: Profits Before People...well.
I'm afraid that's the case.
The most I can do is lodge a complaint against them, since it IS against the law not to provide a patient with all their medical records, upon request.
But I'm stuck for the $65 the ins co didn't pay (as a result of how the dr did her paperwork, I guess). I'll pay that....I don't want any trouble. What are we to do.
Oh, I'm paying the $65. The ins. co. didn't, so I have to, it seems. Whatever.
My problem is with not getting my blood test lab results because they refuse to give them to me without another "exam" so they can discuss them or interpret them for me.
All patients have a right to their medical records, is my understanding. And in my state, in particular, there is a statute specifically saying that patients don't need a doctor's release to get blood test lab results.
Most doctor's offices (or whoever they are affiliated with) have online patient portals where lab results are are posted automatically. Now, SOMETIMES they delay posting the results online until the doctor has at least seen them which could be a catch here if they are saying something looks weird (even if it's nothing essential to actually discuss).
Have you contacted your provider and told them about this? I would, because 65 x many, many people is a big deal. They are likely doing this to others as well.
Here is a link for how to report this. They will likely be able to help you regarding your tests too.
My MD is a one woman office, integrative MD, and she can help or not help a patient as she sees fit. She charges for an online script if a patient calls for one, say abx for something. If she knows the patient well and she knows her patients as it's not a huge assembly line practice. I thought I'd go for a call appt to discuss a couple lab numbers but decided not to as for the $125 fee for the phone consult. A friend talked me thru my concerns.
Her office sells a line of supplements and IF I wanted to get my thyroid meds from her I could, but they are more expensive than pharmacy. But I know I have that option.
The most I can do is lodge a complaint against them, since it IS against the law not to provide a patient with all their medical records, upon request.
But I'm stuck for the $65 the ins co didn't pay (as a result of how the dr did her paperwork, I guess). I'll pay that....I don't want any trouble. What are we to do.
You can actually call your insurance and ask to see how the doctor's office coded your visit. Different CPT codes correspond to different visits and also reflect the cost. If the doctor's office coded you for something that was other than the ACA covered preventative visit--then that's where the charge comes from.
According to the ACA, you get one wellness (two, for women, a physical and an OB-GYN wellness) visit free per year, no matter the insurance. It sounds like the initial, pre-holiday visit was coded as your one wellness visit. You should check to see if the second visit was coded (ie billed) as a follow up or an initial wellness visit. That could lower your 65 dollar rate--yes you haven't met your deductible, but insurance companies have contracts (for the most part) with the provider that indicates the discount, what insurance pays, and what goes back to you. Even when you haven't reached the deductible, there is more than likely an difference in pricing between what the office bills and what your insurance will pay--and that is what gets passed on to you. Again though...it goes back to what was coded.
Regardless, ALWAYS check--balance billing is illegal, no matter the state you are in.
Also, for those of you that are not utilizing your online portals--you really, really should. If you tend to use doctors through one hospital system, ALL your visits (wellness, specialty, labs, emergency) are linked through that portal. You can also see FULL bills and requested itemized (which contacts the codes and detail) bills, as well as labs, radiology, etc.
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