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I got a call from my primary care physician's office this morning. I was there 6 months ago for a full physical. At that time, they wrote me my normal prescription for high cholesterol. I have crappy genetics and despite eating healthy, exercising and being underweight for my height, it cannot be controlled without drugs. The prescription was for 6 months as usual. After 6 months, I have to go in for blood work to check my liver function and then they renew the prescription for another 6 months. This has been the norm for the last 4 years.
But, the nurse then informed me that I had to have an appointment with the doctor when I came in. I asked why and she said that the doctor wanted to discuss my blood work results with me. I replied "You don't have an in house lab so the results are not available for a few days to a week so how the heck can that happen?" The nurse then reversed course and said I needed an examination. Hmmm.... I asked "What would a physical exam show about my cholesterol levels?". She had no response to that question other than to say that is was now their new "policy".
I told her that was fine, but it was MY policy not to pay for unneeded medical visits and that I would indeed come in tomorrow...... to pick up my records. Anyone else experience such a flat out money grab from their doctor?
I got a call from my primary care physician's office this morning. I was there 6 months ago for a full physical. At that time, they wrote me my normal prescription for high cholesterol. I have crappy genetics and despite eating healthy, exercising and being underweight for my height, it cannot be controlled without drugs. The prescription was for 6 months as usual. After 6 months, I have to go in for blood work to check my liver function and then they renew the prescription for another 6 months. This has been the norm for the last 4 years.
But, the nurse then informed me that I had to have an appointment with the doctor when I came in. I asked why and she said that the doctor wanted to discuss my blood work results with me. I replied "You don't have an in house lab so the results are not available for a few days to a week so how the heck can that happen?" The nurse then reversed course and said I needed an examination. Hmmm.... I asked "What would a physical exam show about my cholesterol levels?". She had no response to that question other than to say that is was now their new "policy".
I told her that was fine, but it was MY policy not to pay for unneeded medical visits and that I would indeed come in tomorrow...... to pick up my records. Anyone else experience such a flat out money grab from their doctor?
This seems to be something we are all seeing more of: our primary doctor likes to see us every 6 months and will only refill our prescriptions after she sees us. Like you , I do have a weight problem and a few other ailments, but, considering my age, with the exception of a bad knee I am in pretty damn good health or appear to be. To make a long story short, I decided to change primary care doctors. I have all my meds up to date so I am good for awhile.
I completely agree with you about paying for unnecessary visits. I think the doctors are so afraid of law suites they just want to cover their you know what. It seems they either want to see us every time we breath a little wrong or they want to send us to specialists. In fact we have started called our doctor Dr Referral system. A lot of our friend, who have used her for quite a while are leaving as well.
This seems to be something we are all seeing more of: our primary doctor likes to see us every 6 months and will only refill our prescriptions after she sees us. Like you , I do have a weight problem and a few other ailments, but, considering my age, with the exception of a bad knee I am in pretty damn good health or appear to be. To make a long story short, I decided to change primary care doctors. I have all my meds up to date so I am good for awhile.
I completely agree with you about paying for unnecessary visits. I think the doctors are so afraid of law suites they just want to cover their you know what. It seems they either want to see us every time we breath a little wrong or they want to send us to specialists. In fact we have started called our doctor Dr Referral system. A lot of our friend, who have used her for quite a while are leaving as well.
Dr Referral System! I love it. I don't mind going once a year for a full physical or if a new issue develops. I do mind being required to attend (and pay for) a visit when none is needed.
My health is good. I'm not overweight (in fact at my last physical the doctor remarked that I was almost 15 pounds under the prescribed weight for my height), I don't have high blood pressure or any other risk factors for heart disease other than high cholesterol if not on medication. My current prescription has controlled this issue for the last 4 years. I don't mind having blood work done every 6 month to ensure my liver function is normal, but a physical exam is unwarranted.
I've already contacted a couple new doctor's and they do not have this "policy" in place. They did say I would have to continue to have an annual physical and bi-yearly blood work, but that they did not require another visit with the doctor just to have my prescription renewed after 6 months.
YES!!!! our doctor is like this. He's 39 years old, we are 41 and 42. Anyway my husband just had blood work after not having any for 1 year. He takes Synthroid and Sertraline (Zoloft). He used to go every 4 months for blood work when he was type 2 diabetic. He had lost weight and was off diabetic meds, so he did not see any reason to get blood work right away. He put back some of the weight he lost. The doctor wants him to come in for a physical and blood work results (co-pay is $25) All they are going to do is an EKG, listen to his lungs and tell him his results. Why should I have to pay for a yearly physical??? I am trying to get the results by phone or at least waive the co-pay which isn't going to happen. We can barley afford the Synthroid. He only gave him 30 days no refill because he wants him to come in. I think it's BS. Isn't the blood work enough??? We like this practice we go to and have been going there 10 years so I don't want to switch. What really sucks is we are having some financial difficulty's and the government says we do not qualify for medicade because we make too much, mean while I work in a job that pays minimum wage. Seems like a no win situation. I have been able to get results over the phone without the physical in the past, let's see if I can do this again.
It's interesting that now doctors make the rules - it used to be that patients determined when they wanted/needed to go to the doctor . . . there are a lot of gullible people out there and people who have issues with authority that probably are not able to say "No, this is not in my best interests."
This infringing on personal values is not okay. Very nervy.
It's really "survival of the fittest" in the sense that the smartest people won't fall for this crap.
If you are on medication that your doctor is prescribing for a medical condition, they want to see you more than once a year. Sometimes they make me come in every 3 mos., but usually 6. I don't like it but I know he will quit prescribing for me if I don't go in.
Part of the monitoring is for insurance liability concerns . . . not true concern about your health and well-being - covering their butts, basically and charging you for it.
I don't see a problem with it but I have been seeing physicians for many years.
OP, I would suggest that if he needs to see you in follow up of your labs and to get new prescriptions, have him give you your lab order at your previous visit to have done a couple of weeks prior to your 6 month follow up.
I have to see my Neurologist every 3 months and need blood work every time, he gives me my order and tells me when to have it done and it works out fine.
I have to also see my Rheumatologist every 3 months. She does not give me a slip ahead of time. She waits til I come in, sees what she has from any of my other doctors, and listens to any symptoms I may have before deciding what tests she wants to order. She does not make me come in for the results. She calls me and tells me what she would like me to do in re to the results and that works just fine.
I go to my internist when I have a problem, and unless the problem warrants a follow up, I don't make it. I go back if there is another problem.
Doctors do want the money....but they also need to see a patient in follow up, especially if they are taking medication.
Many of the medications that people are put on can cause liver damage, etc, so they really need to be monitored.
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