Is it Standard for dr office to charge for filling out FMLA paperwork for maternity leave?

[Anonymous]

I'm a federal employee therefore don't have standard maternity leave and need to use FMLA. Just left my 34 week appointment and was told by the business office that the charge $45 to fill out the paperwork. Although this isn't a lot Of $ I'm appalled by this. I feel like im paying enough money for their services that this should be a standard form. Is this a standard to expect from providers in the DC area?

[Anonymous]

yes

[Anonymous]

My pediatrician charges for filling out forms.

[Anonymous]

Make you wait an hour for a 10 minute appt and then charge you to fill out a form? Bastards.

[Anonymous]

I generally avoid doctors who charge for filling out forms or calling in prescriptions. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but if you do it as part of your standard exam schedule (e.g., get school forms filled out at your child's annual appt), I don't think it is reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Yes it is standard and the fee varies for each doctor. At my office, When you have multiple kids and you take them all in for back to school/camp/etc. and need the paperwork filled out, they charge you per kid. Often times, they will not fill out the work then. You drop it off and later pick it up when the office/doctor has completed it.

[Anonymous]

mine didn't charge a fee.

[Anonymous]

with shrinking reimbursements and escalating rent, utilities, insurance, etc, most pediatricians (who take insurance) in DC are lucky to clear 100K/year. Internists do slightly better in this area but the large majority of them make under 150K. This is after 7 years of post graduate training and medical school at upwards of 75k/year (tuition only) at the area (G town, GW) medical schools.
No wonder physicians in primary care are charging a few dollars for filling out a form. It takes up their time and they deserve to be compensated for their time. Would you expect an attorney to do paperwork for free? Or a plumber to do a quick repair for nothing? I don't get why patients expect this of physicians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:with shrinking reimbursements and escalating rent, utilities, insurance, etc, most pediatricians (who take insurance) in DC are lucky to clear 100K/year. Internists do slightly better in this area but the large majority of them make under 150K.

i really find this hard to believe.

[Anonymous]

Mine charged $10, $45 seems high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:with shrinking reimbursements and escalating rent, utilities, insurance, etc, most pediatricians (who take insurance) in DC are lucky to clear 100K/year. Internists do slightly better in this area but the large majority of them make under 150K.

i really find this hard to believe.

this is completely, entirely true. I have medical school friends at many of the local practices. Ever wonder why 9/10 pediatricians and internists in DC don't take insurance?
Reimbursements across states are generally very similar but the costs of doing business here (staff salaries, rents, etc) are much higher than they would be in much of America.

[Anonymous]

i don't know if it matters, but the OP isn't asking about pediatricians. she's asking her OB-GYM to fill out the FMLA form. mine did not charge.

[Anonymous]

My OB did not charge anything. His name is Robert Footer and he is absolutely wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Yes - Georgetown charges - but I think it was $15

[Anonymous]

My pediatrician charges for forms, but my OB didn't charge anything for filling out FMLA paperwork. I think all she had to do ahead of time was a letter with my expected due date. Then I got a resident or med student in the hospital to write down when I actually delivered on a prescription pad. That satisfied my federal HR dept.