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My doctor has you come in a week ahead to do a blood draw, then your labs are available to discuss at your visit. It’s not rocket science. If for whatever reason you have a visit where there’s no time, they send the results to their portal and the doctor will make a comment or two on anything that needs attention.
That's like... everywhere. Except 10 days ago when they vampired blood before my annual physical yesterday and only did a Hemoglobin A1C test. At this time of year, I'm 2 to 4 hours from that office so I can't easily go back to have blood drawn again. I was unimpressed. Time to change doctors.
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.
Might want to check with your state Attorney General or medical licensing board or Surgeon General if such exists.
Doctors can have complaints filed against their licenses. I'd guess they don't like that much. But it sounds like you have a legitimate complaint.
IMO much of the medical profession has become BILLABLES FIRST rather than medical care. The blood pressure scam, recent "guidelines" dropped to swoop up half the population, is a good example.
Plus doctors' offices never take B/P correctly. Never.
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.
They have to give you a copy of your results, especially if you paid for them! If it was me I'd call and ask to speak to the office manager and explain you want a copy of your test results that YOU PAID for and that the INSURANCE paid for and that if they are not emailed to you (or available for pick up) within 48 hrs than you are reporting them to the Department of Insurance in your state for insurance fraud and then to the states regulatory board! I bet they give you your results real fast!!
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.
I'd be damned if I would pay.
My son had a knee problem. Went to see an orthopedist, where he was referred for an MRI. That initial visit was $450. OK, whatever. Add in the cost of the MRI. Another $600.
He got a call from the office to come in and "discuss" his MRI. He went in. Waited an hour. The doctor was "unavoidably detained". Waited another 1/2 hour. Nurse took him back. PA came in and said, oh, the MRI is clear, no injury, no suggestions for exercise, PT, etc. Take some OTC painkillers. 30 second visit.
We got a bill a week later for another $450. I called and told them that we were not going to be paying that bill -- the office kept us waiting for 90 minutes for a 30 second appointment, with information that could have been relayed far more efficiently with a quick phone call. The billing department threatened to turn me over to a collection bureau. I threatened to turn them over to the state medical board for ethics violations and scamming. And that was that. And you better believe that every single person on my son's soccer team, swim team, cross country team, and running club heard about it, as well as my huband's bike club and running buddies! :-)
My son had a knee problem. Went to see an orthopedist, where he was referred for an MRI. That initial visit was $450. OK, whatever. Add in the cost of the MRI. Another $600.
He got a call from the office to come in and "discuss" his MRI. He went in. Waited an hour. The doctor was "unavoidably detained". Waited another 1/2 hour. Nurse took him back. PA came in and said, oh, the MRI is clear, no injury, no suggestions for exercise, PT, etc. Take some OTC painkillers. 30 second visit.
We got a bill a week later for another $450. I called and told them that we were not going to be paying that bill -- the office kept us waiting for 90 minutes for a 30 second appointment, with information that could have been relayed far more efficiently with a quick phone call. The billing department threatened to turn me over to a collection bureau. I threatened to turn them over to the state medical board for ethics violations and scamming. And that was that. And you better believe that every single person on my son's soccer team, swim team, cross country team, and running club heard about it, as well as my huband's bike club and running buddies! :-)
How could you possibly be paying $450 for an orthopedic office visit? I can call a world class sports medicine office like Mass General, schedule Mark Price, the New England Patriots team physician and knee/shoulder guy, tell them I'm paying cash, and it will be less than that. No insurance company pays that kind of fee for an office visit.
1. Change doctors
2. Before you change doctors go in person and ask for a print out of your results. You paid for them, they are yours.
If my doctor can't get in touch with me they mail me my results. I don't even remind them. The duplicate work is unnecessary. So often those follow up visits are unnecessary, too. I view everything as I am done with my yearly, my body feels fine, the meds are responding, I'm following their suggestions, so why go back? Just cancel appointments that are unnecessary and be your own advocate.
If my doctor wanted a back up physical after just having one I would've wanted a consult. What did you find? Nothing? Well then why do you want to see me again?
My view:
Doctors are a dime a dozen.
I wonder how many cheated to get their degree.
How many keep up with their profession or if they always rely on what they were taught 30 years ago.
Quacks are out there.
That's like... everywhere. Except 10 days ago when they vampired blood before my annual physical yesterday and only did a Hemoglobin A1C test. At this time of year, I'm 2 to 4 hours from that office so I can't easily go back to have blood drawn again. I was unimpressed. Time to change doctors.
Specialists do this. My husband sees a rheumatologist and she does this -- Bloodwork a week before and the appointment following. But he could ask for the blood results at any time.
Now a yearly exam will do regular work like cholesterol or other areas you're concerned about - For me it is vitamin D and B12. That is when you talk to your doctor and overview your age, what deficiencies you may have, and what blood tests you want. The thing is to do your research before the visit. I added testing to see if I have blood sugar issues. I also only get my blood done once a year and get everything done at once. That means fewer bills and doctor visits.
A doctor can require an appointment to go over test results, but they cannot deny you a copy of the results or your medical records if you request it (And yes they can charge a small fee). Usually, you can Google and find the value(s) but if you have a lot of questions or concerns you need to bite the bullet and go in.
Thanks for all the kind responses and advice. I GOT THE RECORDS today, including my lab results!
The nurse called me and reiterated that she needed to go over the results with me, etc. I told her that I just want the lab results that have been paid for, etc. (I was nice.) FINALLY...she transferred me to the "records" desk, who set me up on their portal (which they use in-house, too), gave me a password, so that I could access my records! Which I did...and downloaded them to my pc. Yay!
What a relief. Now I have a copy of my blood work results and don't have to pay to get that done again.
I'm not going back to that dr., needless to say.
Thanks, everyone! Next time, I know what to ask ahead of time.
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My view:
Doctors are a dime a dozen. If you live in a mid size to large urban area, then yes, otherwise, the answer is often no. There is a significant shortage of both medical and surgical specialists in many, primarily rural, areas and small cities.
I wonder how many cheated to get their degree. Very, very few
How many keep up with their profession or if they always rely on what they were taught 30 years ago. Physicians are required, as a condition of licensure and most hospital credentialing requirements, to maintain Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. That's why they go to conferences, constantly read peer reviewed journals etc. More importantly, they have to go through Board recertification approximately every 10 years (varies by specialty), which includes taking written board exams (and possibly orals) again. So, they are not working in a vacuum of information that is 30 years old.
Quacks are out there. Yes, there are, but not nearly as many as people seem to think.
Last edited by Texas Ag 93; 01-23-2018 at 04:51 PM..
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