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According to a Charlotte Observer article today, 15 doctors in Mecklenburg County received over $1,000,000 in 2012. An ophthalmologist (Dr. Andrew Antoszyk) reportedly received upwards of $3.7 million dollars from medicare in 2012.
I read the article and I understand that all of this money does not go directly to the doctor however, I don't understand how one doctor can justify billing medicare $3.7 million dollars in one year. What am I missing here?
As an almost full-time caregiver of a parent on medicare I have seen how doctors often abuse medicare by ordering excessive tests, unnecessary procedures, etc. I hope these charges will be verified.
What do you think the chances are that these charges will be investigated? Won't other doctors question these charges now that they have become public?
What do you think the chances are that these charges will be investigated? Won't other doctors question these charges now that they have become public?
or they will feel they missed on such opportunity and look in to finding way to benefit as well...
Abuse exists on all levels, doctor and patient alike. A friend who was an EMT told me that she told a woman who had a slight injury that she really didn't need any medical care; a simple bandage would do the trick. The woman told her "You gotta take me in. I gots the Caid."
I noticed when reading over it, the highest recipents were ophthalmologists. If you Google some of the names you find that these Dr. are in very specialized fields, they are not your run of the mill eye Dr. that prescribes glasses. These are the people you go to with serious eye conditions. Eye conditions that affect older people much more so than younger. It is no surprise their bills are being paid by medicare.
On top of that you see that not all providers accept Medicare, which funnels all the patients to a limited number of Dr.
I noticed when reading over it, the highest recipents were ophthalmologists. If you Google some of the names you find that these Dr. are in very specialized fields, they are not your run of the mill eye Dr. that prescribes glasses. These are the people you go to with serious eye conditions. Eye conditions that affect older people much more so than younger. It is no surprise their bills are being paid by medicare.
On top of that you see that not all providers accept Medicare, which funnels all the patients to a limited number of Dr.
I can understand that these doctors are specialists however, how does one doctor bill medicare 3.7 million dollars in one year? There are only so many billable hours and approved procedures, etc. possible in a year.
Something doesn't smell right...
I can understand that these doctors are specialists however, how does one doctor bill medicare 3.7 million dollars in one year? There are only so many billable hours and approved procedures, etc. possible in a year.
Something doesn't smell right...
As an example:
250 working days per year x $2000 average per eye LASIK cost x 8 eyes per day = $4M. That's making some assumptions, but is easily doable, based on LASIK only taking minutes per procedure.
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