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

[Anonymous]

Gw MFA did not charge me for completing STD paperwork.

[Anonymous]

This thread is really timely. I just dropped my FMLA forms off at Reiter Hill yesterday and was told there would be a $45 charge. Nevermind that I bascially filled out most of it already and just need the signature.

[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. 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.

I get that you're a doctor, and I'm sorry for you because I have siblings who specifically did not move to DC because they would be taking a huge paycutt, but (a) you have options - freaking move somewhere like Atlanta, where physicians are making TONS of money and (b) OP was asking about her OB, not her pediatrician or primary care doctor, so your little rant is totally irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Absolutely not true. Several doctors in my family including 2 pediatricians. Lowest earner makes $200,000 a year.

No, PP, I'm sorry, but it IS true. I have several doctors in MY family who live in other cities and considered moving here, but would have had to take huge paycuts. My sister, 10 years ago, straight out of residency was making $120K in the south, but would have had to cut her pay in HALF to join a practice in the DC area. Also, there is more managed care in the DC area than elsewhere, which means that doctors are being reimbursed less.

[Anonymous]

Mine charges 20 for FMLA maternity leave and then another 25 for short term disability...Crazy!

[Anonymous]

My OBGYN (Dr. Elliott/Lashgari/Borelli) charged me, $35 if I recall correctly. This was after my health insurance paid their office over $3k for an easy pregnancy/delivery Their office said it was because they get so many requests they needed to hire a person specifically to fill out the forms. They did send the form to me via a secure website, though, which I guess costs money to maintain.

[Anonymous]

make sure you understand the difference between leave and fmla. fmla is job protection for 12 weeks. it is not leave; it doesn't pay. you will still have to either take sick leave (6 weeks for vaginal birth, 8 weeks for cesarean), annual leave, or leave without pay. your office may not even require you to exercise fmla. I'm a federal employee, and my office did not require me to submit fmla forms. if you don't trust your boss or your agency, by all means, do it, but my boss reasoned that he couldn't hire to replace me anyway, and I'd still have it available if something happened in the first year.