trigger post: billing for ultrasounds at Dominion Fertility

[Anonymous]

My insurance does not have a copay for ultrasounds. I do have a $35 copay for office visits with a specialist though.
I've had two ultrasounds with DF done by Dr. DiMattina, and for both they charged me a $35 copay. When I see my explanation of benefits, I see they billed for an office visit and that is where the $35 shows up, and then the x-says show no copay.
Why am I being charged as an office visit if I hardly get to talk to the Dr. and anywhere else I would go there would be no copay for an ultrasound? Should I call the billing office?

[Anonymous]

There are typically a couple of elements related to an u/s - the actual u/s cost and a doctor charge for reviewing the info. So, my guess is that your insurance is applying the co-pay to the doctor's charge. I do not pay co-pays for u/s at a radiology center, but do pay them when I go to my RE.

[Anonymous]

But at a radiology center a doctor reviews it to right? When they write a report and then send it to the ob?

[Anonymous]

Yes, a doctor reviews results at the radiology center and those results are sent on to your referring RE, OB, GP, etc for them to make a determination on next steps. When DF bills you, the doctor who is reviewing is also the "referring" physician and is making the call on your next steps, which is why they can charge for it.

[Anonymous]

Makes sense, thanks!